Please find the article below completed by a member of our Patient Engagement Group in October 2024
Life style support
We are fortunate to have a Health and Wellbeing Coach, based at Nunwell Surgery every Thursday, also a drop-in service at Bromyard Community Hospital on Friday, (9am-12pm clinic room 3).
I thought it might be helpful to interview Mark Smith to explore what his role is and how support from him might benefit you. This is what I discovered.
A Health and Wellbeing coach works alongside you to identify life changes you might want or need to make to improve your health, for example weight loss, dealing with social isolation, quitting smoking, selecting and taking part in suitable exercise, improving your diet etc.
They then support you to make those changes.
We all know how difficult it can be to take that first step to a healthier you, and how hard maintaining change can be. Primarily, Mark will strengthen your motivation by helping you identify specific actions, broken down into manageable tasks that you can achieve. Equally, he may help you identify any barriers that prevent you making progress that you need to address, and will then explore options to overcome these challenges. Having a Health and Wellbeing coach means having someone who will be there to encourage you, celebrate your successes with you or even help you hold yourself to account if you are not following through with what you planned.
Having someone firmly committed to the changes you have agreed is often the difference between success or failure. We all need someone in our corner, and it can be helpful if it is someone outside our family and friends who has a clearer, not biased perspective and no hidden agenda. Those that love us most may find it difficult to encourage us to change.
You may be referred to Mark by your GP or other health professionals, but if you feel you could benefit from having time with a coach you can refer yourself via the surgery reception. You will jointly decide how many sessions you need, typically around 6, and may have follow up phone calls to help you maintain progress.
In short a Health and Wellbeing Coach is someone who works alongside you helping you to make healthy lifestyle choices and behaviour changes.