Podcasts to improve health of Rochdale

Podcasts to improve health of Rochdale

Health professionals from across Rochdale have fronted a series of podcasts aimed at improving the health of the borough.

Commissioned by NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Clinical Commissioning Group (HMR CCG), 20 short video clips have been filmed, edited and produced by media production students from Hopwood Hall College.

To ensure the important messages are accessible to the whole community, each video is available in the six most common languages in the borough – English, Urdu, Bengali, Farsi, Polish and Cantonese. The English versions also feature British Sign Language.

The podcasts cover a range of health issues, including general health and wellbeing, smoking, bowel cancer screening and mental health services. There is also one to introduce and explain the role of NHS HMR CCG.

Following a launch event at Hopwood Hall College on 17 April, all 120 podcasts are now available to view on YouTube www.youtube.com/user/NHSHMRCCG. You can also access them through the NHS HMR CCG website www.hmr.nhs.uk.

Local GP and Chair of NHS HMR CCG, Dr Chris Duffy, said: “Rochdale is a diverse community, with varying communication needs and we’re constantly trying to find new ways to make sure our messages are accessible and engaging to all.

“The local students have done a very professional job. I hope the input of young people and the interactive podcast format will appeal to a wide range of people, which will help to educate and improve the health of the Rochdale population.”

Howard Holt, lecturer for the Extended Diploma in Media Production at Hopwood Hall College, said: “This type of project offers excellent opportunities for our students to develop skills – social as well as technical – that will be transferable in their future professions.

“I’ve been impressed with the passion and commitment shown by a number of students, which ensured the work was completed on time and to a good standard.”

In addition to the public health messages, a series of videos has also been created by local media company Glass Eye Productions as a development tool for health professionals.

These feature patient stories which will enable GPs and other local health experts to understand how people feel and how they can help improve people’s experience of health services.