Improving Health: Educating and Enabling Public Health Front-line Staff

26 April 2010

‘Evidence shows that partnership working between primary care, local authorities and the third sector to deliver effective universal and targeted preventive interventions can bring important benefits.’ (Fair Society, Healthy Lives: The Marmot Review 2010)

Our new diploma level module, Improving Health, is the result of an inspired collaboration between NHS Warwickshire and Education for Health. The course is open to front-line workers from the many spheres of public health, social care and even the voluntary sector.

“Student feedback and evaluation builds our understanding of the impact of our education on improving healthcare practice and its direct link to improved patient health outcomes” said Rhian Last, Clinical Lead for Long Term Conditions & Improving Health at Education for Health.

In order to understand what aspects of studying this new module have proved meaningful and beneficial to students and what might be improved, an open questionnaire was devised to capture unrestricted comments from which affinities, common themes and stories could be drawn for reflection.

Rhian attended the recent United Kingdom Public Heath Association (UKPHA) 18th Annual Public Health Forum to present a poster ‘Improving Health: Educating and Enabling Public Health Front-line Staff’ which highlighted the key themes that were of value to students and examples of very positive feedback.

One of our students, a Community Health Trainer from NHS Warwickshire commented on the module: “This is the first time in the whole of my 47 years that I have undertaken a piece of work such as this, and it has been a wonderful experience for me”.

Rhian told me that the forum provided a fantastic opportunity: “The forum was a very lively event, and our poster attracted a great deal of interest. I hope that the positive feedback displayed on the poster will encourage even more people from the health and social care environment to actively seek out ways they can improve their knowledge and skills to confidently support individuals facilitate change away from unhealthy behaviours and ultimately improve the lives of the people that they care for”.

To view the poster click here.

To find out more about studying our Improving Health Diploma Level Module (which can also be delivered in your local area for you whole team) please visit our shop or call Laura Edwards on 01926 838969.

In the photograph: Rhian Last, Clinical Lead for Long Term Conditions & Improving Health at Education for Health at the recent United Kingdom Public Heath Association (UKPHA) 18th Annual Public Health Forum.

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