3,000 members for Birmingham OwnHealth

Birmingham OwnHealth has just seen its active membership top 3,000 for the first time.

The telephone help service is a partnership between NHS Birmingham North and East, Pfizer Health Solutions and NHS Direct.

It offers one to one support for people living with long term medical conditions, such as diabetes, coronary heart disease and lung problems.

Members work with a dedicated care manager to make changes to their lifestyles and learn about treatments, medicines and other support services.

Dr Richard Mendelsohn, director of chronic disease at NHS Birmingham North and East, said: “We are now actively looking forward to our next milestone of 5,000 active members.

"Then we will be welcoming even more people across Birmingham and offering them tailored support to live more independent lives and manage their conditions better.”

Birmingham OwnHealth says research has shown that members make positive changes to their lifestyles such as reducing their weight and improving their cholesterol, blood pressure and glucose levels. Members also report making fewer trips to their GP and to hospital.

Link: Birmingham OwnHealth