Transcript Delivering Safe Care in the NHS

“IT’S OK TO ASK”
Make Every Contact Count
What is MECC?
Make Every Contact Count (MECC) is about staff using the
contact they have with service users and the public to
give healthy lifestyle information around stopping
smoking, drinking alcohol only within recommended
limits, having a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight
and undertaking the recommended levels of physical
activity.
At [your organisation] we have trained xxx staff to have
brief conversations with others about lifestyle issues
NHS Midlands and East
Why it’s important
 A person following all four healthy
lifestyles choices would live on
average 14 years longer than those
who followed none
 Every day staff have millions of
contacts with people that could be
used to offer appropriate
information on staying healthy
 The NHS workforce can act as
‘ambassadors’ for healthy lifestyles,
cutting lifestyle preventable
disease.
NHS Midlands and East
The campaign
• Developed following research
(social marketing insight) carried
out by NHS Midlands and East to
identify the barriers to giving and
receiving lifestyle advice
• Developed in collaboration with
staff and patients to ensure that
the images and messages used
conveyed a clear message to the
public.
NHS Midlands and East
Materials
 A poster campaign to:
• Let people know that our staff may talk to them about their
lifestyles – no matter what their original appointment is about
• reassure the public that they can talk to our staff about lifestyle
issues that are concerning them.
 And a press release to let our public know about MECC
at our organisation
 [EDIT AS APPROPRIATE] We have also issued ‘it’s ok
to ask’ yellow lanyards to staff so that patients know who
to ask for help.
NHS Midlands and East
“It’s OK to ask” - posters
About:
• Alcohol
• Healthy Eating
• Weight
• Physical Activity
• Smoking
NHS Midlands and East
Don’t be surprised if we talk to you
about your lifestyle
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Consultation?
Inpatient?
Rehab?
Day Case?
Out Patient?
Pre-Op?
NHS Midlands and East
Other communications materials
• High visibility safety lanyard with the “It’s OK to Ask” message
• Pre-printed Post-it notes for staff to use when signposting patients to
lifestyle services
• Banner pens with MECC prompts for staff
• Pocket prompt cards with prompts for staff
NHS Midlands and East
More information:
Communications toolkits and artwork for all materials (including
adaptable posters) are available from NHS local learning and NHS
Midlands and East website at:
http://nhs.lc/makingeverycontactcount
http://www.midlandsandeast.nhs.uk/OurAmbitions/Everycontactcounts/Commu
nications.aspx
For more information on MECC contact your Implementation
Lead: Add Implementation Lead email address
NHS Midlands and East