As services, such as the NHS, come under increasing pressure, people are being encouraged to take greater responsibility for looking after their own health and wellbeing, in order to prevent the likelihood of them needing to receive treatment and support both now and in the future.
We are working with Healthwatch to invite people to take part in an online survey How do you look after yourself in South Gloucestershire?. The survey aims to find out which services people use, where they go to get advice and what hobbies and activities they participate in, to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Healthwatch would also like to speak to people in the community face-to-face to find out how they look after themselves or self-care.
Self-care is a key part of the new NHS Long Term Plan, with the aim of helping people to live longer and healthier lives, and to make vital savings in healthcare. As a result, health services and organisations such as Healthwatch, are helping to promote the benefits of self-care to members of the public.
Alex Francis, Healthwatch South Gloucestershire manager, says; Self-care can be simple, such as treating minor ailments such as coughs and colds at home. It can be making choices that help you to lead a healthier lifestyle such as walking 10,000 steps per day, volunteering or learning new skills.
Through this survey we want to find out if people know what self-care means and how they go about achieving this in South Gloucestershire.
Jenny Theed, Sirona’s Director of Nursing and Operations, said: We are passionate about listening to people and working with individuals, families and carers to make things better. Many things can be prevented by making small lifestyle changes and we want people in South Gloucestershire to know where they can go to get the information and support to help them achieve those changes and what we can do to improve that information for communities. We hope people will take part in this survey and speak to Healthwatch.
If you would like Healthwatch to speak to you and members of your group contact Dan Hull on 01454 543 402. To take part in the survey and find out more about Healthwatch go to Healthwatch South Gloucestershire.
