If you are one of the thousands who have made New Year’s Resolutions about your health – but you don’t want to be one of the thousands who have broken them by the end of January – here’s some information about local health services which may be able to give you the information and support to turn that Resolution into a Revolution in how you feel.
Tower Hamlets local health trainers All Councils have a duty to promote public health. The Tower Hamlets Public Health Service maintains four teams of health trainers (one for each corner of the Borough): health professionals who can give you all sorts of guidance on how to improve your physical health. They can help individuals – but they can also work with groups. They can give or arrange healthy eating and/or exercise classes or help set up support groups for people with various conditions. They are enthusiastic and keen to do work which the community actually wants and needs: get your Tenants and Residents Association, youth group or any other community group to contact them and set up a relationship. •Find out how to get in touch with your local health trainers, and get more information on what other services are available in Tower Hamlets, by visiting the Public Health section on the Tower Hamlets Council website, www.towerhamlets.gov.uk. •Alternatively, you can contact your team direct: ·North West locality health trainers: http://www.osmanitrust.org/projects/health-trainers/ ·North East locality health trainers: http://www.bbbc.org.uk/health-trainers ·South West locality health trainers: http://stifford.org.uk/2014/08/health-trainers/ ·South East locality health trainers: http://www.go4sport.org/health-trainers.html
Smoking If you have taken the decision to stop, or even to cut down, you may be looking for support. You are up to four times more likely to stop smoking by using free support from your local NHS Stop Smoking Service. •Find out more at www.nhs.uk/smokefree or visit your local pharmacy for free advice on how to stay stopped.
Alcohol The Government has recently issued new advice, based on up to date studies of the effect of alcohol on your health – coinciding with “Dry January”, during which Age Concern encourages people to have an alcohol-free month. •If you’d like to learn more about your own relationship with alcohol, or you would like to suggest this to a friend, there’s more information on: www.dryjanuary.org.uk. •You can obtain help from Tower Hamlet Specialist Addiction Unit at Mile End Hospital: call 020-8121 5301 for general advice and support with alcohol or substance addiction.
And finally… •A full directory of services available in Tower Hamlets can be found in these places: https://www.ideastore.co.uk/community-information http://www.towerhamletslocallinks.org.uk/
•For more information or advice on how you can make a 2016 a healthier year have a look at the NHS “Change for Life” website: www.nhs.uk/change4life