BeWell 

Health & Lifestyle

Health & Lifestyle Practitioners

The Health & Lifestyle Practitioners are non-clinical practitioners located within your GP practice who can support patients with making positive lifestyle changes including improving diet and increasing physical activity levels. The Health & Lifestyle Practitioners focus on the prevention of conditions such as Cardiovascular Disease and Type 2 Diabetes.

Who can access support?

The Health & Lifestyle Practitioners are able to support the following patients:

• Patients with non-HDL cholesterol  ≥ 4mmol/L
• Patients with QRISK score >10% 
  Note: QRISK score is a system that we use to identify those patients who are at risk of coronary disease (for example heart attack, strokes).

There are certain criteria that must be met in order to be referred to a Health & Lifestyle Practitioner: 

• Aged >18 years
• Registered at a Venn PCN GP Practice
• Not currently pregnant
• If referred for prediabetes support, you must not have received a previous diagnosis of Type 1/2 Diabetes

What happens after I am referred to a Health & Lifestyle Practitioner

You will be contacted via telephone within two weeks of your referral. If we are unable to contact you via telephone, you will be sent a letter via post asking you to get in touch.

A Health & Lifestyle Practitioner will discuss with you the reason for your referral and answer any questions you may have. Depending on the reason for your referral and your individual circumstances, you will be offered various support options including up to 12 months of support with a Health & Lifestyle Practitioner. 

The Health & Lifestyle Practitioners can also refer to other services including SmokeFree Hull, RENEW, Community Link Workers, NHS Talking Therapies, Mental Health Wellbeing Coaches, Citizens Advice, Community Dietetics, National Diabetes Prevention Programme etc.

What happens if I accept the offer of Health  & Lifestyle Practitioner Support

You will firstly be invited to a 60 minute face to face initial assessment where you will be offered the opportunity to be weighed, have blood pressure checked and be screened for atrial fibrillation. You will also be asked about your current lifestyle, your long term health goals, and what support you feel would be beneficial. You will then be offered frequent follow-up appointments which can take place face to face or via telephone, and your progress will be regularly reviewed. You can request to be discharged at any point, however, support will not last longer than 12 months.