Supporting people towards a healthier lifestyle can make a big difference.

Two years ago the Department of Health 2004 committed that from 2006/07, NHS Health Trainers will be working within primary care trust (PCT) areas to give healthy lifestyle support to local people.

To develop the programme and establish a new NHS workforce, the Health Inequalities Unit at the Department of Health established a network of 15 regional hubs to support this programme at local level. One of these is the Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Health Trainer Partnership, which is managed by Heart of Mersey (HoM).

The aim of the partnership is to develop a Cheshire and Merseyside wide Health Trainers programme, co-ordinated and evaluated centrally but with the flexibility to be managed and operated independently within each PCT area.

Currently, HoM is managing this process through a Cheshire and Merseyside Steering Group consisting of a senior representative from each PCT programme area.

The group is in the process of:

• Developing a Cheshire and Merseyside Training Programme/Package that all partners will use. Training will include a range of learning methods and attainment levels to meet a wide spectrum of Health Trainer Models and incorporating systems to allow all partners easy access to training. This is due to be completed soon
• Co-ordinating a Cheshire and Merseyside Health Trainer Partnership Evaluation programme and to share learning across the network.

Locally PCTs will be responsible for employing/commissioning and managing local health trainers and for developing ways to ensure they meet local need.

For more information on the partnership or on Health Trainers generally please contact Mike Parker (Project Development Manager. Heart of Mersey) via email mike.parker@heartofmersey.org.uk