Health Education: Access for All
Health Education: Access for All
This thinkpiece explores the significance of clearer and more accessible health education in the UK and the need to encourage greater individual empowerment, societal well-being, and the development of a healthier, more informed nation. The multifaceted importance of health education is emphasised by its impact across various educational levels, workplaces, and the broader fabric of society. At its core, health education can be a key facilitator in the fostering of a more proactive societal approach to physical and mental health, and well-being.
Published:
11 April 2024
Key recommendations include:
1. Implement a National Health Curriculum of robust school wellness policies that promote a healthy school environment, including provisions for nutrition, physical activity, and mental health support, ensuring adherence across educational institutions.
2. Integrate a core public health curriculum component into all curriculum development processes, mirroring the incorporation of subjects such as Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) or sustainability, to ensure comprehensive education on health-related topics across all academic disciplines.
3. Establish partnerships between schools and nearby healthcare providers, community organisations, and public health agencies to enrich practical learning opportunities and strengthen the dissemination of health education messages.
4. Develop a ‘Healthy Body, Healthy Mind’ public campaign to enhance health literacy, emphasising the importance of understanding health information for making informed decisions and promoting self-advocacy.
5. Establish a dedicated fund within the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), such as an Early Intervention Fund, to support targeted programmes addressing health issues such as obesity, mental health and substance abuse.
6. Promote collaboration between the Government, NHS England, British Medical Council (BMC), Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE), and prominent UK public health schools to devise a tiered standard for modular content ranging from Level 1 to Level 8, delivering current and precise health information tailored to each qualification level.
7. Establish a Best Practice Exchange Forum, meeting quarterly, where NHS England, NHS Scotland, NHS Wales, Health and Social Care Northern Ireland, Department of Health and Social Care, Department of Education, and relevant ministries from devolved nations convene to facilitate mutual learning and cooperation. This forum would promote a cohesive approach to addressing health education challenges across the UK, fostering collaboration and sharing of best practices among the four devolved nations.
8. Develop mechanisms for continuous evaluation of health education programmes, using feedback to adapt and improve school curricula in response to emerging health challenges and changing societal needs.
9. Incorporate a 'Paracelsus year' for overseas industry placements, inspired by a medical Erasmus model, within medical degree programmes and vocational pathways for doctor qualifications, thereby facilitating exposure to international best practices and enriching the medical lifelong learning pathway.
10. Introduce an education or curriculum co-design function into the current NHS patient-doctor feedback forums, to allow direct input from patients and healthcare providers in shaping educational programmes and curricula. This initiative will help ensure alignment between healthcare education and patient needs, fostering continuous improvement and relevance within the healthcare system.