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‘Live self care for life’ is the theme for this year’s Self Care Week

This week is National Self Care week and people across the country are being asked to focus on looking after themselves and the theme this year is ‘Live Self Care for Life’.

In addition to helping people look after their own health, Self Care Week is also used to promote better use of the NHS by signposting people to the right service relevant to their health needs.  

Across Herefordshire and Worcestershire Self Care Week this year will also focus on empowering patients to talk to their healthcare professionals about what matters to them.

In order to encourage people to have discussions, ask questions and share in the decision making with their healthcare professional, health partners across the two counties are rolling out a new initiative called ‘Your Health, Your Conversation’ to promote the message that It’s OK to Ask and support people in making decisions with their healthcare professional, whether a consultant, a nurse, physio or GP.

Dr Claire Laxton, GP and lead for the campaign at NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Clinical Commissioning Group said: “As a local GP, I would like to support well informed choices for patients. This campaign encourages people to ask the questions that will help them make the best decisions for them.

“Overall, this leads to better understanding and people being confident to be able to manage their own health care better.

“It starts with people being empowered to ask questions, gather information and work together with their health care team.

“We want to see people have greater choice and control over decisions about their care and it fits well with ‘living self care for life’ as the theme of this year’s Self Care Week.’

National evidence has shown that only 40 per cent of people have had a conversation about what matters to them (with a health care professional in their practice) and that people with one or more long term condition (LTC) account for 50 per cent of GP appointments and 64 per cent of outpatient appointments, with only 55 per cent of adults living with LTCs feeling they have the knowledge skills and confidence to manage their condition*

In addition to helping people look after their own health, Self Care Week is also a time to promote better use of the NHS by signposting people to the right service relevant to their health needs.

This year, the Week will also emphasise self care practice for the continuing coronavirus pandemic with support and encouragement at this time to protect themselves and others against the virus. In addition to social distancing, mask wearing and hand washing further suggestions for the pandemic must be to encourage people not to ignore their symptoms and to use the NHS if requiring health advice and support, do not unnecessarily put off treatment.

More information about personalised care can be found here:https://www.england.nhs.uk/personalisedcare/

This organisation ceased to exist on 30 June 2022, please visit our new website for NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care Board - Integrated Care Board :: Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care System (icb.nhs.uk)