BSLM – Change NHS

Firstly we want to reach out to say a huge thank you for supporting British Society of Lifestyle Medicine, our community and reach is growing every day and it’s so exciting to see the change in narrative on a larger scale.

We’re reaching out this time with NHS Change Campaign in mind. As this campaign states, “Changing the NHS is going to involve everyone. The government wants to hear people’s views, experiences and ideas as part of this engagement to help shape the 10 Year Health Plan for England.”
This means for this outreach to be successful; it’s calling on patients, carers, staff, voluntary organisations and members of the public. So basically, it needs all of US to pass on our experiences, skills and ideas via their surveys and idea-sharing online forum.

BSLM submitted our organisational response in time for the deadline of 2nd December but we’d love to share the content submitted in the hope that it may assist you in providing consistent responses from a workforce, patient & public perspective.
If you want to explore the campaign, read more on the NHS Change website, which has information, videos, statistics, and everything else you’ll need to add your voice to the movement!

The Mission: We need to work together; lifestyle medicine is the answer!

We have been working behind-the-scenes since this initiative launched, trying to find the best way to empower our members to participate and share their personal experiences, thoughts and feelings, but also be able to incorporate their passion for mainstream lifestyle medicine.
We welcome the shift to prevention, and to the increased support for Primary Care. This is a great opportunity for each one of us to ensure that lifestyle medicine is at the heart of our future healthcare service” says Emma Mulligan, BSLM COO who co-ordinated our campaign response: “What is important too though, is ensuring that we are aligned in our view of what prevention really is. It definitely isn’t driving increased testing, over-diagnosis and additional unnecessary medications. We need to be clear on how we provide the support to sustainable lifestyle changes for a healthier society”

Tackling demand will continue to be a big challenge, we need to be driving a shift towards developing a new way of delivering healthcare – we believe a move to Group Consultations and better patient support is required for sustainable change; Meeting the quintuple aim and better outcomes for all involved.

We have shared our key points under each shift that highlights the key areas in the NHS Change campaign which you can watch in full below.

Did you know that young and middle-aged adults in the most socioeconomically deprived areas had the same number of multiple conditions as those 10–15 years older in the least-deprived areas? ¹

No matter where the community sits socioeconomically, it’s so important to highlight that a focus on healthcare within the community can be the change the NHS needs: connection can be medicine.

Dr Satinder Sanghera’s story, which covers her tips that she discovered on her lifestyle medicine journey, which she highlights; “Find meaning and purpose through your family, career, hobbies… Surround yourself with positive folk and make laughter compulsory”

Through education, we can support health care professionals like Dr Olga Morton (in our video) to integrate lifestyle medicine into their communities.

This is important for scaling up Lifestyle Medicine interventions through multi-disciplinary teams as part of the NHS’ shift to care in the community.

Did you know, Lifestyle related illnesses and diseases now make up 7 of the world’s top 10 causes of death? ²

We can’t help the national population on a scale that it’s required without the use of technology in this day and age.

Vidyamala’s story, which through her personal journey with lifestyle medicine she ended up founding Breathworks. Their programmes now reach over 100,000 people around the world, with 700 people that are able to teach mindfulness globally. Find out more about Breathworks

Through technology, we can help health care professionals like Dr Nike reach further than his day to day practice with his lifestyle medicine techniques.

Important for developing a new way of delivering healthcare – a move to Group Consultations and better patient support for sustainable change through technology.

Did you know, the number of people in England with 4+ conditions is predicted to double between 2015 and 2035? ³

Prevention is the only way we’re to begin to combat predictions like this becoming a reality. Lifestyle medicine can start preventing, and changing lives, one pillar at a time.

Dr Helen Monk’s story, which she covers adopting lifestyle changes through the 6 pillars, reversing some symptoms of her long term condition; “I went on this journey, I’m trying to lower my inflammation and really focused on the lifestyle pillars, especially nutrition… It’s been quite a journey but my life has been transformed”

Through education, we can support health care professionals like Dr Gunjther (in our video) to use preventative lifestyle medicine techniques in practice.

This is important if we want Lifestyle Medicine prioritised as an NHS treatment and prevention option.

Lifestyle Medicine is the future, and if we don’t act now, our voices will be unheard. How do we push through such an important cause for government awareness?

The Action: Let’s ensure we’re heard!

1: Use our Text Template to complete your survey

Repeating the same answers to what we want to see in the 10yr plan and the 3 Shift Queries, emphasising the use of the words lifestyle medicine and it’s principles will show the volume of support. There’s power in numbers!
Use our text versions and add, amend, personalise or simply copy and paste into the NHS site below:

View all the packs with text here

2: Share and circulate our resources

Download our digital campaign pack here and share far and wide

Watch, share and highlight our Campaign Video on release, share online, or add the link to your survey response if you wish!

Pass our campaign on and spread it far and wide!

Everyone’s encouraged to participate, why not share the above resources with your circles to spread the word further and encourage them to participate.

Share by forwarding this page or download an interactive PDF of this page that you can attach to future communications here:

The statistics are startling and will only get worse if we don’t intervene.

But most importantly, don’t forget to click here to submit via the NHS Change platform to be heard.

Thank you again for taking the time to support us, an independent charity and Lifestyle Medicine – the evidence-based clinical care that can change the trajectory of the NHS, and our healthcare system.

We can’t wait to see what an impact this will have by Spring 2025 and what the future holds.

References:

1. Barnett K, Mercer SW, Norbury M, Watt G, Wyke S, Guthrie B. Epidemiology of multimorbidity and implications for health care, research, and medical education: A cross-sectional study. Lancet. 2012; 380 (9836): 37-43.
2. The World Health Report 2002: Reducing Risks, Promoting Healthy Life. World Health Organisation, 2002 Geneva3.
3. Kingston A, Robinson L, Booth H, Knapp M, Jagger C. Projections of multi-morbidity in the older population in England to 2035: Estimates from the Population Ageing and Care Simulation (PACSim) model. Age Ageing. 2018; 47: 374-80..