Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust (LPT) is celebrating this month as the number of young people able to access its award winning secure text messaging service, ChatHealth, reaches one million.ChatHealth is a web-based text messaging service which
ChatHealth is a web-based text messaging service which young people of secondary school age can use to access confidential advice from a school nurse. It’s just three years since ChatHealth launched. It was co-designed with both young people and school nurses to ensure that it effectively meets the needs of both young people and health professionals. LPT was able to develop the service thanks to investment from the East Midlands Academic Health Science Network.School nursing services have found that ChatHealth significantly increases the number
School nursing services have found that ChatHealth significantly increases the number of young people aged 11-19 that they can reach. It’s also a helpful way to engage with teenagers who might feel less comfortable speaking face to face with nurses about embarrassing or sensitive issues. For example, adolescent males are more likely to ask a question by sending a text message. Around one in five ChatHealth service users is male compared to one in ten attending school nurse clinics. Young people report that they like ChatHealth, firstly because is a quick and easy way to get advice about their physical and emotional health, and secondly because they can do this anonymously. ChatHealth has clear safeguarding procedures in place in the event that young people disclose that they are at risk of harm. Leicestershire’s school nurses have been leading the way on making positive changes
Leicestershire’s school nurses have been leading the way on making positive changes in healthcare. They have now supported 30 organisations across the country to adopt ChatHealth. Numbers of staff trained to use the software have increased tenfold, from 70 originally in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland to more than 800 nationwide. They can respond to more than a million young people across the UK to whom the service is now available – that’s one in seven11-19 year olds. ChatHealth messaging helplines are also now being introduced to parents through health visiting teams, and other community services are adopting the model too.Sarah Fenwick, LPT’s lead for school nursing, said: “ChatHealth is such a valuable
Sarah Fenwick, LPT’s lead for school nursing, said: “ChatHealth is such a valuable tool because it makes it easier for us to reach and support vulnerable young people. All the feedback we receive emphasises how much young people appreciate confidential and discreet access to health professionals.”
