Campaign toolkits

‘Be Prepared for Winter’ is the first stage of our local system winter campaign, designed to empower individuals and communities to take proactive steps to safeguard their health and wellbeing during the winter months. By encouraging specific actions, we aim to reduce the strain on NHS services during this challenging season. This toolkit is provided to help our partners effectively share key messages and resources across their networks and channels.

• Be Prepared for Winter toolkit
• Breathe Easier this Winter toolkit
• Get The Right Care toolkit

Across mid and south Essex, there continues to be a sustained need for information to help support parents and carers of young children with advice and support with minor child illnesses at home, without the need for appointments at clinical centres.  

In addition to this, there is continued pressure on local health systems and high paediatric emergency presentation in local A&E departments. There are also complex issues linked to high areas of deprivation across local geographies which lead to increased presentation at both primary and acute services. Much of the time, the outcome of the attendance is recorded as self-care/advice and no treatment is given which in turn results in significant costs to local services. 

The campaign toolkit provides further information about the campaign as well as template wording you can use on websites, in internal and external newsletters and also on social media.

• Children’s Health Matters toolkit

In 2023, across mid and south Essex, there were 9,888 emergency admissions to local hospitals due to falls – a 7% increase compared to 2022. Of these, 85% occurred in people aged over 65, with 63% in those over 75.

Falls can not only cause serious injury but can also significantly affect confidence, leading to distress or embarrassment. In some cases, they can severely impact a person’s independence.

The good news is that there are many simple steps people can take to reduce their risk and stay steady on their feet. Our new guide, Fall Proof, offers valuable advice. This 12-page pamphlet includes a checklist of actions to reduce the risk of falling, with sections on trip hazards, hydration, balance, blood pressure, eyesight, and exercise. A digitally accessible version of the guide is also available.

Residents can also visit Active Essex for information on simple home movements that can help maintain strength and balance.

The communications toolkit that we have produced contains everything local partners need to support our falls prevention campaign.

Note: Although this has been linked to our winter campaign, the toolkit is designed to be used year-round as part of an ongoing approach.

A campaign to encourage eligible individuals to receive the free pneumococcal vaccination. As part of the CORE20Plus5 framework, which aims to reduce health inequalities, there is a particular focus on individuals with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and driving uptake of various vaccines, including pneumococcal, to reduce hospital admissions.

The partner toolkit provides further information about the campaign as well as template wording you can use on websites, in internal and external newsletters and also on social media. You will also find posters which can be displayed in community settings and flyers that can be printed or sent to individuals digitally.

Our ABCD of Cancer campaign aims to remind residents in mid and south Essex about the importance of being aware of any unexplained changes to their bodies, or signs and symptoms that are unusual for them. While the odds are that these changes are not indicative of cancer or another serious condition, it’s crucial to consult your GP for an evaluation.

The campaign focuses on the following types of cancer: breast, bowel, bladder, kidney, gynaecological (including cervical and ovarian), lung, skin, prostate, and testicular.

A campaign to inform patients about the availability of different roles within general practice and increase confidence in accessing to the most suitable healthcare professionals for their needs. 

This campaign aims to raise awareness on the importance of blood pressure monitoring and healthy lifestyle change. The toolkit was written for Know Your Numbers week but can be used as an “always on” campaign.

This campaign was developed for No Smoking Day and promotes the three local stop smoking support services in mid and south Essex. The assets can be used as an “always on” approach.

As the UK weather can be unpredictable, we need to be ready for extreme weather – including a heatwave. While warm weather and sunshine may be welcome for many of us, we need to raise awareness that some groups of people may be more at risk during extreme heat and encourage people to look out for those groups. We all need to keep well and stay safe as much as we can. 

Key messages:

• Keep in touch: look after yourself and those more at risk – the elderly and the young; listen to the weather forecast and the news; plan ahead to avoid the heat 
• Keep well: drink plenty of fluids and avoid excess alcohol, dress appropriately for the weather; slow down when it is hot 
• Find somewhere cool: know how to keep your home cool; go indoors or outdoors – whichever feels cooler; cars get hot – avoid closed spaces
• Stay safe in the sun: be on the lookout for heat related illness; stay sun safe – wear sunscreen and help to reduce your chances of skin cancer, be barbeque safe; look after any bugs and bites; hay fever advice.

Be aware of other possible knock-on effects: for example travel disruption, power cuts and water safety if cooling down by swimming in open waters.