From 16th October, East Riding of Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), supported by clinicians, is introducing a health and wellbeing programme for smokers and people with a BMI of and/or greater than 35 to encourage local residents to improve their wellbeing and live the healthiest lives possible.
The CCG’s vision is to prevent ill health and encourage people to live healthier lifestyles by actively promoting healthy behaviours.
One of the ways this can be done is through tackling smoking and reducing obesity and, when they need support from NHS services, helping people to understand their options and better manage their own health through self-care and shared decision-making.
Available from Monday 16 October 2017, the new health and wellbeing programme will offer all people who are obese (obesity is defined as a Body Mass Index (BMI) over 30, however this programme is specifically for individuals with a BMI of and/or greater than 35), or people who smoke, a referral to either a weight management programme or stop smoking services. This will be for a 6-month period of health optimisation, in advance of any planned non-urgent operation.
Commenting on the new health and wellbeing programme Craig Dobson, GP and Medical Advisor to East Riding of Yorkshire CCG said:
“Our aim is to encourage and empower patients to take greater responsibility for their lifestyle choices. We believe it is fundamental that patients are given the skills, knowledge and support to take more accountability for their own wellbeing to ensure they can lead a healthier lifestyle.
“There is already a well-used and effective smoking cessation service in place run by East Riding of Yorkshire Council, people entering this health and wellbeing programme will have access to this service to help them to quit smoking.
“We are investing in a new weight management service which will complement the existing Live Well Programme run by East Riding of Yorkshire Council, which is targeted at people requiring weight management support prior to bariatric surgery. The new service will also be run by the Council and will provide weight management support to people who have a BMI of greater than or equal to 35 prior to surgery.
“We are not saying patients can’t have the surgery. We really want people to be successful during their health and wellbeing programme, however if they don’t reach their target weight loss or stop smoking after 6 months, they will still be put forward for surgery.”
Not all patients will have to go through the health and wellbeing programme. Patients with conditions that need urgent or emergency surgery will not have to take part in the health and wellbeing programme, however all patients will continue to be offered lifestyle advice and support.
There are a number of exclusions including patients undergoing surgery for cancer; undergoing tests for suspicion of cancer; patients with a severe mental health illness; frail elderly patients and more.
Patients who are directly affected will be advised and supported by their referring clinician.
