Who are Practice Health Champions?

•Practice Health Champions are people who voluntarily give their time to work with the staff in their local GP Practice or surgery to find new ways to improve the services that the practice offers, and to help to meet the health needs of patients and the wider community.

•Practice Health Champions build upon the success of the Community Health Champion model. In addition to individuals using their life experience, understanding and position to influence their friends, families and work colleagues to lead healthier lives – Practice Champions also use their passion and understanding of the local community to enrich decision making in GP practices through the development of a greater understanding of local need; Champions develop new groups to support the health and wellbeing of the local community and also develop new skills and experiences which support their own personal development and growth.

•Practice Health Champions are supported to work with surgery staff as peers, to improve services and develop opportunities.

•The work of the Practice Champion varies, depending on their interests, experience, the needs of the practice and local community health priorities.

•Practice Health Champions are recruited and trained from the local community. Champions reflect the needs and aspirations of the community that the GP Practices serve.