Seasonal one-stop-shop wellness events are encouraging people with long-term health conditions to access support and information to help them cope in winter.

The project is a partnership between NHS Gloucestershire and *primary care networks (PCNs), drawing in help from the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector (VCSE).

A calendar of events involves help being taken to all localities across the county at a range of community venues throughout the winter.

Gina Mann, Project Manager at NHS Gloucestershire said:

“Last year we focused on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and staying well in winter, but this year following the success of previous events we have now opened it up to include other long-term conditions.

It runs like a marketplace with community groups and others having stalls and reaching out to patients.”

The events, which are aimed at over 65s, cover the following long-term conditions:

  • Diabetes
  • COPD
  • Liver disease
  • Cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Danielle Knight, Operations Manager at St Paul’s PCN in Cheltenham said that people had reacted positively to the events.

“People have given us good feedback,” she said.

“We sent out a text message and people were invited to come along if they wanted to.

There has been a really good response – people took away lots of information and were happy to sit down, digest what they’d read and heard and write their feedback forms.”

Support and services are showcased at the events including frailty and the falls services, social prescribing and mindfulness as well as the healthy lifestyles service and a number of VCSE organisations, including the Citizens Advice Bureau and the Warm and Well service.

PCN teams are on hand including respiratory and CVD nurses and GPs with a special interest in CVD and other conditions.

Sheelagh Storey visited a recent event at St Paul’s Café in Cheltenham which drew 60 people during the first part of the day alone.

She said: “I’ve come to the event because of my respiratory condition, but also for help with my balance and I’ve found it very informative.

I hadn’t realised all this help existed so it’s brilliant. I also picked up some leaflets to look at when I get home.”

Megan Isaac, Senior Programme Manager at NHS Gloucestershire said:

“The idea is that the series of events offers holistic support so it’s more than just a programme of health specific events.

The project covers both health and social care, encompassing people’s health and wellbeing as a whole.

There’s definitely a link between long term conditions and mental health and people have also mentioned the value of networking with other people saying that it has reduced isolation for them.

The two events we’ve held so far have already drawn 200 people and generated really good feedback.”

 Notes

*Primary care networks (PCNs) – groups of GP practices working together with community health services and organisations.