Prevention and Proactive Care

Preventing Ill Health and Providing Proactive Care

We can help people stay healthier and slow down the progression of illnesses by focusing on prevention in five key areas: 

  • Reducing smoking
  • Promoting healthy eating and weight management
  • Encouraging physical activity
  • Addressing alcohol dependency

Adopting preventative and proactive approaches can ensure that people receive timely and appropriate support. This not only improves health and wellbeing but also reduces costs when people receive advice, support or care from the right teams or services at the right time.

Earlier in 2025 primary care colleagues from across the country tuned in to a national webinar on proactive care hosted by Greater Manchester Primary Care Provider Board (PCB), NHS Greater Manchester (NHS GM) and Peak Health Coaching. Around 150 people joined the session to hear about the innovative work being undertaken by general practice in Greater Manchester, as part of the Proactive Care Programme. Read more here.

Person-centred

Being person-centred means people can take control of their health, and design support that is right for them. Involving people in planning and deciding their health and social care allows you to work towards what that person needs and wants to achieve, not what the system thinks they need. Person-centred conversations enable us to shift the relationship between health and care professionals, and lead to more effective partnerships to help people manage and improve their health. We begin to care for the person, not the condition, when we ask:

-'What matters to you?' not 'What's the matter with you?'

-'What's strong with you?' not 'What's wrong with you?'

 -'What makes sense to you?' not 'One size fits all'

-'What can we do with you?' not 'Doing to you'

There is great person-centred care happening across Greater Manchester but people have told us, through the Big Conversation, that they want more. And there are many benefits to working in a more person-centred way:

-People are more likely to understand the advice given and feel confident to follow it, as well as feeling valued and listened to

 -Sharing expertise, knowledge and responsibility improves people's health and wellbeing

-Focussing on what matters to people joins up care across services and in local communities

 -Building on what is right, rather than wrong, with people can generate better solutions and reduce pressure on stretched NHS services

-This all helps the health and care system be more effective and efficient

 

New ‘Top Tips for Teeth’ Resources to Support Children’s Oral Health

Updated ‘Top Tips for Teeth’ resources resources are available to support dental professionals, healthcare workers, and Early Years practitioners in promoting good oral health for children aged 0-3, 3+, and pregnant women. These resources provide practical tips, raise awareness about oral hygiene, and highlight the impact of poor dental health. Parents and carers can also find advice on the Start for Life website. 

Free materials, including a social media toolkit, posters, leaflets, and digital content, can be downloaded or ordered from the Campaign Resource Centre for use in dental practices, hospitals, and Early Years settings.

Women's Health

Click the link above to read more about women's health support, knowledge and resources.