The Vision
Making Every Contact Count (MECC) is a behaviour change approach that encourages people to
make positive choices through individual, organisational and environmental interactions. Workforce
colleagues from NHS, local authorities, voluntary and community sectors give people simple and
consistent messages and signpost them to services that can help improve their health and wellbeing.
The Cheshire & Merseyside vision is that all front-line staff will have the skills and confidence to have
positive conversations about health and wellbeing as everyday practice. This could include behaviour
changes such as stopping smoking or increasing physical activity.
The intended goal is to create a focus on prevention and build on the success of existing local work
already taking place. MECC is a key driver for achieving the prevention priorities set out by the
Cheshire & Merseyside Health & Care Partnership.
Why is it important?
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MECCis a simple way for all NHS, local authority, community and voluntary staff to make an even bigger difference in their day-to-day roles
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12,000hospital admissions & 270 deaths could be prevented each year with brief interventions, economic modelling shows
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65%of staff trained in MECC have improved their own health behaviours
What are we doing?
A Strategic Framework was formed from recommendations made at a system leadership workshop in April 2018. A communications and engagement strategy was also created to set out ambitions to deliver a campaign across Cheshire & Merseyside encouraging the public sector to incorporate MECC into their daily interactions.
As part of this ‘MECC Moments’ campaign, a signposting website was created for NHS and local authority staff to have MECC conversations and easily share information about services in their area.
Leadership
DPH Lead
The Director of Public Health for Making Every Contact Count is Matt Ashton.
More information
Website
Cheshire & Merseyside has a dedicated website for Making Every Contact Count. The website is designed for use by professionals and includes a service finder for signposting to local lifestyle services:
Contact
Please contact ChampsCommunications@wirral.gov.uk