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NHS trust helps 41,000 patients with health and lifestyle changes

More than 41,000 patients have received support for healthier lifestyles through a new NHS programme in East Suffolk and North Essex. The Making Every Contact Count initiative has already helped thousands quit smoking and improve their diet.

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Why it matters: The programme aims to tackle health inequalities between deprived and affluent areas in the region. In central Ipswich and Tendring, residents are more likely to be obese, smoke, and require emergency hospital care compared to areas like Framlingham and Great Bentley.

The big picture: East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT) staff are using routine patient interactions, such as outpatient appointments, to offer lifestyle support and referrals to specialist services.

Garrett Anderson Centre at Ipswich Hospital
Oliver Rouane-WilliamsIpswich.co.uk
The Making Every Contact Count initiative has already helped thousands quit smoking and improve their diet at Ipswich Hospital

By the numbers:

  • 6,500 patients have been referred to support services

  • More than half of hospital inpatients referred to stop smoking services have successfully quit

  • 23.8% of people in the most deprived areas smoke, compared to 6.8% in least deprived areas

  • Adult obesity rates are 2.4 times higher in most deprived areas

What they're doing: The trust has launched several targeted projects including:

  • A 20-week healthy eating programme for children called 'Nourish'

  • Inpatient stop smoking services at Ipswich hospital

  • Picture menus on hospital wards to encourage healthy eating

What they're saying: Sally Barber, associate director for health inequalities at ESNEFT, said: "Figures show that there is a significant difference in the quality of life experienced by people in our most deprived areas compared with that enjoyed by those in the least. Tackling health inequalities is therefore a priority for ESNEFT as we want to make sure that everyone gets the same opportunities and access to health and wellbeing support, regardless of where they live."

Bottom line: The trust plans to make the programme "business as usual" for its teams to help even more people improve their health and wellbeing in the future.

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The PLMR Genesis team

PLMR Genesis

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Wanting to start or grow your business in Ipswich?

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Gipping Construction

Based just outside Ipswich, Gipping Construction is an employee-owned construction company that operates in the private and public sectors across East Anglia.
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PLMR Genesis is a full-service PR and digital marketing agency based in Ipswich. The team is the East of England flagship for PLMR.
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Gipping Construction doing on going renovations to outside of Ipswich Museum

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PLMR Genesis, Start, Build & Grow and Gipping Construction

The PLMR Genesis team

PLMR Genesis

PLMR Genesis is a full-service PR and digital marketing agency based in Ipswich. The team is the East of England flagship for PLMR.
Start, Build & Grow logo

Wanting to start or grow your business in Ipswich?

If you have a business idea you need help launching, or a new business you need support getting established, SBG is a fantastic free programme created just for you.
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Based just outside Ipswich, Gipping Construction is an employee-owned construction company that operates in the private and public sectors across East Anglia.
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