A health and wellbeing coach in a GP practice who helps people with a range of issues like mental health and loneliness has shared his passion for the role – as part of a regional careers campaign.
Richard Adamson is a health and wellbeing coach at seven GP practices across Billingham and Norton – part of Hartlepool and Stockton Health GP federation – helping provide holistic support to people.
As part of this, he helps patients at the practice in setting short and long-term goals – describing himself as that “middle person” between a patient and GP.
Richard, from Coulby Newham, is part of a regional campaign to promote little-known-about health and social care career roles across the Tees Valley – backed by 11 organisations including health trusts, local authorities and a GP federation.
Richard said: “Myself and the team help guide our patients in the right direction.
“This can involve face to face appointments, phone appointments or even going to patient’s own home to offer that support.
“We see ourselves as the middle person – we can spend that extra time with the patient, show them how they can achieve their goals or signpost them into a treatment that will help them.”
Wellness walks
Richard, who has a background as a qualified personal trainer, also leads regular wellness walks for patients.
He explains: “The walks involve meeting in the community as a group with a health and wellbeing coach or social prescriber to meet and greet.
“No one needs to feel they need to talk or open up, it is merely a chance to get out into the community, be around people who are going through similar situations as you, get exercise and get some fresh air. From there we can help signpost these people to other areas and help them get the help they need.”
North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation NHS Foundation and the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board are jointly leading the campaign on behalf of health and social care organisations across the Tees Valley.