There is cause for celebration this month as the number of young people able to access ChatHealth – the secure text messaging service run by school nurses – reaches one million, that’s 1 in 7 11-19 year olds.
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. The East Midlands Academic Health Science Network (EMAHSN) originally supported the development of ChatHealth by Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust (LPT) and thanks to more than £100,000 of investment from EMASHN, ChatHealth is now being rolled out across the country, and is already available through 30 UK organisations. ChatHealth 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.

School nursing services adopting ChatHealth have found that it 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 1 in 5 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.

Sarah Fenwick, LPT’s school nursing lead 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.”
Chris Hart, Commercial Director at EMAHSN said: “EMAHSN is very proud to have supported the development of ChatHealth which is having such a major impact on the health and wellbeing of school pupils across the UK. More than a million young people having access to this innovative service is a major milestone.”

Guidance from NHS England encourages NHS providers to embrace mobile technology to connect more easily with tech savvy service users. ChatHealth intends to continue to extend its reach even wider, including to health visiting, mental health and sexual health services, as part of a digital future for patients everywhere.

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS
• East Midlands Academic Health Science Network (EMAHSN) is one of 15 Academic Health Science Networks in England. EMAHSN brings together the NHS, universities, industry and social care to transform the health of the region’s 4.6m residents and stimulate wealth. Current priorities focus on identifying and spreading innovations that address challenges including cancer, diabetes, mental health, Technology Care Enabled Services and support for frail older people.
• Awards won by ChatHealth include the NHS England Innovation Challenge Prize for Digital Patient and Clinician Engagement, overall winner of the UK’s Patient Experience Network Awards 2014 and the East Midland Innovation Healthcare Award for Improving Access to Care for Underserved Communities.

• Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust provides a range of health and wellbeing services for people living Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. The Trust serves a population of one million and employs approximately 5,400 staff. For more information visit: www.leicspart.nhs.uk

• If you are interested in ChatHealth as a service call Jimmy Endicott on 0116 295 7937, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
or contact via @jimmyendicott on Twitter.
• Media enquiries: Chris Taylor 0115 748 4242 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Lucy Hose 0115 748 4243 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.