All Our Health is a call to action that Public Health England (PHE) is leading for all healthcare professionals to develop health promoting practice. From making every contact count in individual healthcare interactions, or through action at community or population level, to come together to build a culture of health in our society. For nurses and midwives this forms the first three commitments in our new national framework, Leading Change Adding Value.
The All Our Health call to action is supported by PHE in a number of ways including through social media. PHE’s Chief Nurse Directorate runs social media weeks of action promoting good practice, championing the professions and partners, signposting to evidence-based resources, and encouraging innovation and experiences to be shared.
During the first week in November our theme was children and young people between five and 19 years (#Health5to19): such an important age group in terms of development and transition. Our ambition that every child gets the best start in life extends to supporting development and transition throughout childhood, adolescence and into early adulthood. The Health5to19 week explored different topics and themes that are vital to provide the kind of support which helps young people gain the knowledge and education to live healthy lifestyles, keep safe and make the right choices, and to build resilience to be able to cope with the upheaval and challenges that life throws up.
Healthcare professionals need evidence on which to base practice, an understanding of what children and young people think and ways to measure impact. All of these were covered during the week. There were fantastic blogs from a range of people concerned with child health.
We have also published a range of resources to support practice for this age group within All Our Health. PHE has topic guides on children and young people’s health on best start, oral health, obesity and transition 10 to 14 years.
We also launched a whole range of products to support practitioners and commissioners, including a new integrated 4,5,6 model and high impact areas spanning the ages 0 to 19, an FGM infographic and pathway, a troubled families infographic and a child oral health infographic.
School nurses are leading the Healthy Child Programme for five to 19 years and shared many brilliant innovations and experiences. Many other healthcare professionals contribute to children and young people’s health and care, and the week of action celebrated their fantastic
work too.
We also held a mini ‘week’ of action on 14 to 16 November where we focused on protecting health. Social media activity from this week can be found at: #ProtectAoH.
Viv Bennett, chief nursing officer, PHE