Press Releases

The Health Creation Alliance would like to support and welcome the investment to speed up access to innovative medicines and technology.

The NNHSA  recognise the need to do things differently. We desperately need to support the introduction and spread of innovative new medicines and technologies throughout the NHS. We support the Government’s ambition that NHS patients should get world-leading, life-changing treatments as fast as possible. We now have an NHS innovation accelerator and an innovation network: it is fundamental to support their work through reducing the funding barriers within the NHS.  We also see the importance to companies that invest their own money in the development of innovative new medicines and technologies and agree that we should support these companies to make the UK a global centre for life sciences and a country renowned for innovative solutions.

Mark Robinson, NNHSA lead on pharmacy, commented:

“Innovation should be seen as a responsibility and not an option. We welcome this support to ensure that we can develop innovative medicines and technologies that support the way that we deliver healthcare and create health. We are entering an exciting time where innovation will change the face of people’s lives and the way that the NHS performs.”

 

Health Creation Alliance (NNHSA) has responded to the latest King’s Fund research analysis showing that central government cuts are forcing councils around the country to drastically reduce spending on critical public health budgets and services.
NNHSA Chief Executive, Merron Simpson, commented:
“These cuts to public health lead us to question the government’s commitment to population health. We know that 80% of health is determined by the circumstances in which we live and not medical interventions and it’s time we started investing in line with that. Certainly the money needs to be used differently, but we continually see local authorities role in improving people’s health undermined”.
NNHSA Chair, Heather Henry, said:
“What we have not focused on in the past is how to create the enabling conditions for people to be well. We need to be much more inventive about how we invest for health creating methods to be employed across the NHS and local authorities – and for the money to be linked to outcomes for people; but simply cutting budgets in this way isn’t helpful”.

Health Creation Alliance hosted a special Summer Event on Wednesday 5th July, to share the thoughts and experiences coming out of our new groundbreaking ‘A Manifesto for Health Creation’. Throughout the day delegates shared their knowledge around bringing health creation to people wherever they may be – through outreach work and collaboration, reflected on the Manifesto’s key recommendations and discussed on how best to drive them forward from a ‘think’ focus to a ‘do’ focus, so that health creation becomes a core part of the UK healthcare system.
The event in London was attended by healthcare professionals and resident/expert witnesses, with a dynamic and interactive programme of thought provoking presentations, workshops and panel discussions, chaired by Prof Paul Burstow, Birmingham Mental Health Commission. The day was defined by the moving stories of motivational empowerment in action and how good being connected and in control made people feel; and the positive and enthusiastic sharing of ideas and innovations in health creation practice. We were encouraged by our delegate’s discussions, information sharing and energy for change, despite often citing how hard it is to change our mindset and to progress the journey of health creation in a reluctant system.
The consensus view was that we all need to build on the successes achieved to date to keep the momentum and public narrative going. It was agreed that the core challenge ahead was to convert the unconvinced and to encourage sceptics that courageous new thinking is required to ensure that Health Creation and health creating practices become ‘business as usual!’
We believe this challenge is even more pressing, given the increasingly polarised society in the UK exposed by recent events and with projections suggesting that social inequality is likely to increase over the next few years. The economic effect of Brexit is already starting to kick in and rising inflation – increasing prices in food and so on – always hits the poorest most. That affects inequality and in turn has a knock on negative impact on people’s health and quality of life.
Merron Simpson, Health Creation Alliance Chief Executive, commented:
“There is a growing urgency for the NHS and other sectors to move quickly to adopt Health Creation as a routine part of what it does. That’s why we have identified the 5 features of health creating practices in our manifesto – because it offers those working at any level within any organisation a starting point for creating conditions for people to increase their levels of the 3Cs (Health Creation). We urge everyone across the health system to start innovating with the 5 features all of the time and start to see the difference for themselves. Health Creation Alliance is also working with partners to bring about the systems-changes required.”
Speakers, presentations and quotes:
NNHSA Chair, Heather Henry, speaking on the aims of the Manifesto’s 10 top line recommendations as a way of creating health that decreases dependency, increases resilience and reduces their demands on traditional health and care services, said: “We need to shift from a pathogenic mindset to thinking about the causes of health – and we need to go to communities with humility respect and listen – not power & control.”
Professor Paul Burstow, Birmingham Mental Health Commission, speaking on why we need a paradigm shift for mental health and how health Creation may help, highlighted the importance of reducing mental illness in young people. He commented: “People don’t want a mental health service, they want a life. Often we are giving them neither.”
Sir John Eldridge,  Carnegie Trust, speaking on the Manifesto, described the ‘enabling state’ – and commented that the Manifesto was a clear statement of the challenges.
Noel Mathis WEvolutionUK, speaking on Self-Reliant Groups, said: “SRGs are disruptive, they disrupt the culture of dependency.”
Catherine Wilton, NHS England, talking about the need for health creation, said: “We are within a paradigm where we are doing what we know doesn’t work.”
Peter Hay, Birmingham Director of Social Services, speaking about the health Creation practices in Birmingham, said: “Health professionals need to find ways to include the – 5 features of health creating practice – Listening and responding, Truth-telling, Strengths-focus,  Self-organising, Power-shifting – in every interaction!”
Robert Punton expert witness, speaking about the health Creation practices in Birmingham, said: “People need to build their own support not have it thrust upon them!”
Juliann Hall, South Yorkshire Housing Association, talked about the strength in interdependency not independence, as described in the Manifesto –  (‘connection’ is one of the 3Cs).
Dr  Amanda Skeate, St Basils, challenged general practitioners to adopt a learning approach called Psychologically Informed Environments by training their receptionists in the model.
Brian Fisher, NNHSA Vice Chair, said:
“Health Creation is urgent – and it saves lives. One of the 5 features of health creating practice is listening – and responding. We can see the extreme consequences of not listening, not respecting, not responding to the voices of the populations we serve: Grenfell and Mid-Staffs, for instance. These also show that we need a power shift, another of the 5 features of Health Creation. One of the reasons people are not listened to is because they are seen as powerless and of little consequence. We need the system to change.”

NB: ITN Productions filmed throughout the day and the event highlights in this inspiring video perfectly captures the energy for change and for taking purposeful action to apply, adopt and embed health creation within daily practice.

Please click on the link below  to view the video:
https://itnproductions.wistia.com/medias/m0qmadosyn# 

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The Health Creation Alliance (NNHSA) have today set out their vision and road map for Health Creation in a ground-breaking Manifesto, which sets out 10 high impact recommendations to create a wellness-based health system, aimed at tackling the continuing problem and social injustice of health inequalities.
The Manifesto for Health Creation calls for:

• The adoption of health creating practices
• System reforms to support Health Creation
• Enhanced education on Health Creation

NNHSA Chair, Heather Henry, explains:
“Politically and professionally, the issue and problem of health inequality has unfortunately not received the attention, or the solutions, that it merits. Which is why a key driver and commitment for the Health Creation Alliance has been to work in partnership with others to lead the change to reduce health inequalities through Health Creation. The NNHSA and its supporters believe the case for Health Creation is compelling. Crucially, we believe the time is right for stakeholders to adopt this approach as a core part of the UK healthcare system.”
“Each of the Manifesto’s 10 top line recommendations are a way of creating health that decreases dependency, increases resilience and reduces their demands on traditional health and care services. We urge stakeholders and individuals across the healthcare professions to adopt health creating practices and to join the Health Creation Alliance and the Health Creation movement!”
NNHSA Vice Chair, Dr Brian Fisher – a London GP, says:
“The Health Creation Alliance membership has vast, shared experiences of practising community based health creation. Our Manifesto includes substantive evidence and examples of the benefits, successes and effective levers for adopting a Health Creation approach.”
“The UK health system needs outcome measures that focus on addressing what matters to people as well as what’s the matter with people. If planning started with and responded to the issues raised by local people, we would get even more value from ‘the renewable energy of communities’ – as illustrated by our Manifesto case studies of Health Creation initiatives across the country.”
NNHSA Chief Executive, Merron Simpson, comments:
“Health Creation is the enhancement in health and wellbeing that occurs when individuals and communities achieve a sense of purpose, hope, mastery and control over their own lives and immediate environment. Our Health Creation Manifesto reiterates our commitment to building and developing a sustainable, community-based health and care system.
We believe that if the health, care and wellbeing professions all focus on health creation it will help to bring about the step change that is needed across the system to tackle health inequalities. Importantly, this focus will also enhance cross-functional and collaborative working, both within and across professional boundaries.”
“People and communities themselves hold the key to building a sustainable health system where demand can be managed effectively. We call on all the political parties to provide extra funding to stimulate health creating activities – led by local people, for local people – and ‘catalysts’, people who are experienced in working with communities to create the conditions for health creating activity to happen.”

ENDS

 
 
Notes to editors:

• For enquiries, please contact: Judy Harris at judyharris15@aol.co.uk or on 07717 691845
• You can read the Manifesto here
• Health Creation Alliance mission is …‘to infect the UK health system with wellness’. You can find more information here
• Health Creation Alliance has a goal to make Health Creation and health creating practices a core part of the UK healthcare system alongside a greater focus on prevention. We believe that this is the best way to reduce health inequalities and deliver a sustainable health service.
• The Health Creation Manifesto has been endorsed by the Royal College of GPs and is supported by The Queen’s Nursing Institute, Nesta Health Lab, Alpha Primary Care and Housing LIN

 

The aim is to produce community immunity through immunisation. Over the years we have struggled to hit WHO or Public Health targets – the Health Creation Alliance believe that we must do better. Community Pharmacy has contributed a significant number of immunisations and joint working with General Practice is becoming more common. The flu letter for 2017 – 2018 has arrived and introduces the immunisation of reception and school age children for the first time.
Community Pharmacy wants to make a greater contribution and to help Public Health England achieve their 40-65% immunisation targets, but unfortunately seem to be excluded. Community Pharmacy has been excluded from the last program by not being able to access nationally purchased vaccine from the national stock for the immunisation of children.
Within the letter GPs are being asked to immunise 2 to 3 year old children. The immunisation of school age children will be delivered by school nurses and if any children miss their slot they will have to go to General Practice.
The NHS England Area Teams have the opportunity of introducing programs that are slightly different for their areas. The Health Creation Alliance would like to suggest the following:

• Allow Community Pharmacy to be part of the service and allow access to vaccines from within the national purchasing scheme.
• To allow community pharmacies to deliver the service to school near their pharmacy.
• To allow community pharmacy to immunise children that have missed their opportunity within the school based program

Mark Robinson, NNHSA Executive member and special advisor – community pharmacy, said:
“We must remember that the aim is to produce community immunity and we must be disappointed that we continue to miss the national and international targets. We must try harder and do differently. It would seem an omission that community pharmacy does not have a clearer position in delivering the targets.”
He added: “We have shown that increasing the engagement between community pharmacy, children and their parents creates greater awareness of the services provided within the pharmacy – and has increased the number of minor ailment consultations in the pharmacy and reduced prescribing in General Practice. It is about time that we thought ‘one primary care’ and utilised community pharmacy more.”

Ends

Notes to editors:

• For enquiries,interviews or further comment, please contact: Judy Harris at judyharris15@aol.co.uk  or on 07717 691845
• Health Creation Alliance mission is … ‘to infect the UK health system with wellness’. You can find more information here
• Health Creation Alliance has a goal to make Health Creation and health creating practices a core part of the UK healthcare system alongside a greater focus on prevention. We believe that this is the best way to reduce health inequalities and deliver a sustainable health service. Click here for a short briefing paper on Health Creation.
• You can find coverage of our Health Creation Action Summit here 

 
 

The Health Creation Alliance has supported the employment of pharmacists within General Practice through their document ‘Pharmacists and General Practice’ and within ‘Making time in General Practice’. We have also been great supporters of the commitment to pump prime pharmacists in General Practice and the work of NHS England in driving forward the successful pilot into full roll out. We have also seen the value and contribution that pharmacists in General Practice can make.
However, it is simply not enough. The 1,300 practices across London, who are currently surviving in a very challenging environment are allocated just 84 between then – and many are disappointed at this level and the lack of alternatives.  In Wandsworth community pharmacists have stepped in and supported General Practice on a sessional basis. Last year The NHS Alliance published their report ‘Supporting the development of community pharmacy’. The report offers 8 recommendations on ways to engage community pharmacists in managing the demand in General Practice. We know that several GP federations have approached Local Pharmaceutical Committees asking what more Community Pharmacy can do.
The Health Creation Alliance believes that demand in General Practice is at a critical level. We know that working in ways that promote health creation can also help to reduce demand, and we would welcome urgent action to support community pharmacy to go further to manage demand and adopt health creating practices.
Health Creation Alliance pharmacy lead, Mark Robinson, said:
“We have always said that Community Pharmacy is an under-utilised resource. It is time to sort this out and find ways of engaging and supporting community pharmacy to work closely with General Practice and with communities to manage demand.”

Ends

Notes to editors:

• For enquiries, interviews or further comment,  please contact: Judy Harris at judyharris15@aol.co.uk  or on 07717 691845
• Health Creation Alliance mission is … ‘to infect the UK health system with wellness’. You can find more information here
• Health Creation Alliance has a goal to make Health Creation and health creating practices a core part of the UK healthcare system alongside a greater focus on prevention. We believe that this is the best way to reduce health inequalities and deliver a sustainable health service. Click here for a short briefing paper on Health Creation.
• You can find coverage of our Health Creation Action Summit here