Notice Board

Parkwood Healthcare Ltd has won a new contract to help tackle health inequalities across Southend-on-Sea by supplying a team of Health Trainers. Working in partnership with NHS South East Essex, the Health Trainers will reach out to local communities and help people to improve their health and wellbeing.

The Health Trainers will be local people who have lived and worked in South East Essex, and who understand the issues people face when making changes to improve their health. The core team of three Health Trainers will be employed from the local community and will undergo a structured training course, after which they will gain fully qualified Health Trainer status, accredited by the Open College Network. The Health Trainer service will also recruit and train a network of volunteers.

The new team will then start work placements in and around South East Essex, putting their training into practice with the help of NHS South East Essex.  The Health Trainer service will provide one to one support, and will encourage and motivate people to make lifestayle changes, providing basic information and practical support to people in South East Essex who want to improve their health. The new service will initially focus on:

• Healthy Eating
• Stopping Smoking
• Increasing Physical Activity

Russell Francis, Business Development Manager, said: “This is great news for Parkwood Healthcare Ltd and the people of Southend. The new service will provide skills, employment and help people in the local communities. Parkwood Healthcare Ltd are looking forward to working in partnership with NHS South East Essex and other local agencies in providing an effective health trainer service across Southend.”

Dr Andrea Atherton, Director of Public Health at NHS South East Essex, said: “Health trainers will play a very important role in helping to improve local health and prevent future illness. This important new scheme will provide the right support and advice to those who want to improve their health.”