Health Trainer service to expand

The Borough's Health Trainers

After the launch of the Health Trainer Service last year, Heywood Middleton and Rochdale Primary Care Trust (HMRPCT) is planning to expand the service and is looking for new recruits.

Since its launch last December, more than 670 people from across the Borough have contacted the Health Trainers, with 350 people receiving one-to-one support. Health Trainers are people from the local community who provide support and advice to people about how to lead a healthy lifestyle. This might be giving advice on how to stop smoking or what type of food people should be eating. They work closely with people to set realistic goals to improve their health and develop personalised health plans.

Angela Aitken, Health Trainer programme manager at HMRPCT, said: “The response from service users and members of the public has been fantastic and now our Health Trainers are really starting to be recognised when they’re out and about in their purple T-shirts.

“We are already at the stage where we need to expand the service, we are therefore looking to recruit some more full and part time Health Trainers in various areas of the Borough. People don’t need lots of qualifications or experience but they definitely need to have good knowledge of the local areas and be friendly and understanding.”

The PCT will be holding an open day for any people interested in becoming a Health Trainer - Monday 12 May 2008 at Middleton Civic Centre, Fountain Street, between 1pm and 5:30pm.

For more information, contact: Angela Aitken or Rebecca Walker.

Email: rebecca.walker@hmrpct.nhs.uk

Tel: 0161 655 1477