NHS Declaration on Healthy Weight

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Following the success of the Local Authority model, interest started to grow in how this could look within an NHS setting. Since 2018, Food Active have been working with NHS England South West, Public Health England South West and Diabetes UK South West, to support the development and piloting of an NHS Healthy Weight Declaration in the South West.

Influence Policy:

The Declaration will be developed in consultation and piloted with NHS organisations in the South West, and will aim to provide an opportunity for NHS organisations to demonstrate their commitment to supporting patients, visitors and staff to achieve a healthy weight, building on some of the excellent work already underway in NHS organisations.

What are the benefits of a NHS Declaration?

The NHS Declaration on Healthy Weight can provide support in the following area:

  • Delivery of commitments in the NHS Long Term Plan
  • Work being led by PHE on reducing childhood obesity in line with the Government’s Childhood Obesity Plan, including on calorie and sugar reduction
  • A whole systems approach to reducing obesity, promoting healthier vending and working with NHS England and NHS Employers on promoting healthy food and drink in hospitals

Piloting of the NHS Declaration on Healthy Weight

After receiving six expressions of interest to take part in the year-long pilot phase of the Declaration, four NHS trusts were selected, including Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust, Somerset Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust. Process and impact evaluation are underway to determine the effectiveness of the pilot.

What’s next?

Following the pilot, a number of support materials will be finalised to support NHS trusts in the adoption process and a full evaluation report will be published in Winter 2020. We will update this page with any further details and information on the project as and when they come available.

More Information

If you would like to find out more about the NHS Declaration on Healthy Weight, please get in touch by following the button:

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