Hi All
As far as I am aware health psychology is supposed to mean you can get 
involved with new wave of health trainers which covers much of what you seem 
to be discussing I think- perhaps some one from division could further 
inform us as they have a representative at the Department of health working 
with the NHS??
- (although they could do with making a bit more noise so that colleagues in 
the NHS begin to understand what health psychology is not only from hearing 
me go on and on......)
Kazminder
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "AYERS Beverley N" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, September 07, 2006 1:19 PM
Subject: Re: Bored musings....


Hi Brian,

Thanks for the link - it sparked my interest and inquisative mind. The 
health trainer angle would be an ideal opportunity for health psychologists 
to get involved in the NHS. I agree is a bit over the top for GP's to 
conduct health checks on healthy individuals but health psychologists may be 
able to conduct such checks on individuals. I'm working in an occupational 
health company at the min and to be trained in doing lung capacity tests and 
audio tests only takes a few 2 day courses so i'm told? i dont know if 
anyone knows any different?

If individuals could be taught and encouraged to adopt healthier lifestyles 
it would save the NHS millions....the problem is moving intentions to 
behaviour. But this is certainly in need of more research and would be a 
good idea. There are problems to keep in mind tho - like you say ill people 
may use the health checks rather than dr's if they cant get an 
appointment....will there be a max no of checks in an individuals 
lifetime...is that ethical...what would happen if the checks led to a 
diagnosis of chronic illness...would there be enough support available and a 
referal system in place????

like i said...thanks for the bored musings...very interesting!

Have a good one,

Bev Ayers

________________________________

From: Health Psychology Postgraduate Network on behalf of Brian McMillan
Sent: Thu 07/09/2006 12:17
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Bored musings....



Hello,

Can't remember if this has been discussed before but I was browing the web
and stumbled across this;

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4656866.stm

..and couldn't help thinking that there seems to be potential role for
Health Psychologists here. Is a "health MOT" the kind of thing Health
Psychologists would want to do though? Or be able to do? It seems to fit
well with the "health maintenance" idea offered by health psychologists to
compliment to the current "illness-treatment" (over) emphasis of the UK
healthcare system.

My guess is that it would be too expensive to pay (over-pay in my
opinion!) GPs to do annual health checks on "healthy" individuals. But I
wonder if Health Psychologists would be in a position to (or have any
desire to) play this role with a bit of top-up training? I can imagine
problems with such an idea - e.g. that ill people might end up going to
the "MOTs" because they can not get an appointment with their doctor.

Is this a question that would be worthy of further research? Perhaps from
a Health Economics angle - i.e. how much could the NHS save by encouraging
people to adopt healthier lifestyles and thus reduce their risks of
subsequently falling ill? Maybe it's already been done? Is this something
that Health Psychologists see as a potential role in a future NHS?

Just wondering....

Brian