This year has been another challenging year for us all and in particular for our frontline colleagues, as they continue to provide the highest standard of care possible to all patients. Our team also continued to play our part and support where we could.
During 2021, HSE, Health & Wellbeing became part of the Strategy & Research function under Dr Philip Crowley. We remained focused on informing and encouraging the public to proactively make healthier lifestyle choices, which we know can help reduce the risk of getting seriously ill from Covid-19. We continued our efforts to encourage people to quit smoking, reduce their alcohol intake, eat healthier and exercise more.
A number of significant policies were launched during the year. These include, minimum nutrition standards, which encourages our health service sites to adopt healthier eating options for staff and the public and the HSE Social Prescribing Framework which will support and guide the ongoing development of social prescribing by supporting people to engage with community groups and reduce isolation. Over 13,000 people registered for our various webinars throughout the year, on all things health and wellbeing, from the ‘Overweight & Obesity…. Let’s Talk’ webinar to the ‘Engaging Men’ men’s health webinar series.
Supporting people’s physical and mental health as we recover from Covid-19 was another key objective. We developed a series of HSE exercise videos for beginners. Also we continued to broadcast the highly successful Stress Control Online and Minding Your Wellbeing mental health and wellbeing programmes. For more information on these and other initiatives visit www.hse.ie/healthandwellbeing and subscribe free to our YouTube channel.
Our external partners played a significant part in helping to promote our health and wellbeing programmes. These included the Healthy at Work initiative, in conjunction with the Irish Heart Foundation and also Men’s Health, with the Irish Men’s Sheds Association, Irish Men’s Health Forum and the Men’s Health Network and many others. HSE Sexual Health & Crisis Pregnancy Programme (SHCPP) successfully piloted an online STI testing service in partnership with online provider SH:24, with funding from the Sláintecare Integration Fund.
The Healthy Ireland Strategic Action Plan 2021–2025, was launched in May. As part of the ongoing implementation of Healthy Ireland in the HSE, we hosted a webinar to support the launch of the latest Progress Report 2015 -2020, detailing progress relating to Healthy Ireland across the health service. This year, Health & Wellbeing worked closely with the Department of Health in relation to the development and launch of Sláintecare Healthy Communities, which aims to deliver increased supports targeting health inequalities across different communities. I look forward to updating you more about this during 2022.
Finally, I would like to thank you for all of your hard work and commitment throughout 2021 and wish you and your family a safe, relaxing and happy festive season.