Q. What is Healthier You?

Healthier You is a behaviour change programme that supports people likely to develop type 2 diabetes. The programme helps participants to achieve a healthy weight, improve their nutrition and increase their physical activity levels to lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. 

For more information on the programme and how to refer please view our primary care information video at https://vimeo.com/643449200 

Q. Who currently runs the Healthier You service? 

In Greater Manchester, Healthier You has been provided by Xyla Health and Wellbeing.

Q. Why is the Healthier You moving to Reed? 

The Healthier You programme is funded by NHS England nationally. The contract with Xyla will come to an end on the 31st of July 2022.  

Following the re-procurement Reed were selected as the new provider and will provide the Healthier You service in GM from 1st August 2022 for the next 3 years. 

Q. When will Reed start accepting referrals?

Reed will start accepting referrals onto the programme from 1st August 2022.  

Q. Will I need a new referral form?

Yes, ahead of the 1st August you will receive an email from GMSS with a new referral form and contact email address for Reed to send referrals to. You will be required to import the new referral form on your clinical system and delete the old one. 

The GMSS Data Quality Team will be available to support you if you are struggling to import these by calling 0161 212 6182. 

Q. Can I still refer to Healthier You before the 1st August?

Yes, Xyla will stop accepting new referrals on Friday 29th July 2022, until then you can continue to refer into the Xyla service using the referral form currently installed on your clinical system.  

Q. What will happen to my patients that have already started the programme before the 1st August?

If your patients have started the Healthier You programme before the 1st August, no action is required by the practice or the patient. They will continue to be supported by Xyla until they have fully completed the programme.  

Q. What will happen to my patients that have been referred to Healthier You but haven’t started the programme before the 1st August?

If you’ve already referred patients to Healthier You before the 1st August, Xyla will try and get them started on the programme before the end of August after which they will continue to be supported by Xyla until they complete the programme. 

If they don’t start the Healthier You programme by the end of August, their referral information will be safely shared with Reed so they can contact the patient and start the programme with them.  

Each patient will receive a letter from Xyla about this and will be given the option to opt out if they would prefer their information to not be passed on to Reed and they will be discharged from the programme. 

To see a copy of the letter please follow the link here.

No action will be required by the practice however we would like you to note that you may receive queries from patients about the letter they have received.  

You will be informed by email with the relevant SNOMED codes to update the patients record if they have started the programme or been discharged.  

Q. Will the service change when it moves to Reed?

The primary aim of Healthier You continues to be the prevention of Type 2 diabetes through the delivery of a face to face or digital behaviour change programme 

Face to face group sessions are delivered by trained health and wellbeing coaches over the course of 9 – 12 months. Throughout the programme participants learn how to prevent diabetes by incorporating healthier eating, physical activity, problem-solving, stress-reduction and coping skills into their daily lives. 

The digital service is available for people unable to attend face to face sessions and delivered online or through a smartphone.  

Q. Are there any differences between the Xyla and the Reed Healthier You Programmes?

The only difference is that under the Reed a tailored remote service will also be offered alongside the face to face and digital interventions to specified cohorts or groups who are at higher risk of experiencing health inequalities. 

Q. What is the tailored remote group service?

The Tailored Remote Service is offered as an intervention option to specific identified cohorts alongside the F2F and Digital Service to individuals who have been identified as requiring tailored or specific support. These groups include, but are not limited to, the following: 

  • Those with a hearing impairment requiring British Sign Language; 
  • Those with a visual impairment; 
  • Women with a previous diagnosis of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus; 
  • Service Users from Bangladeshi or Pakistani backgrounds who require a specific cultural and language tailored Service. 

The content of the Tailored Remote Service will mirror the intensity, theory and content of the F2F Service i.e. 13 sessions, over 9 months. 

These 5 groups have been chosen as evidence demonstrates that they are more likely to experience health inequalities and may benefit from a more tailored approach.