Walk the Talk
Walk the Talk is a strategic initiative funded by NHS
Health Scotland designed to improve young people’s access to health
services provided by the National Health, Local Authorities and
Voluntary organisations. The initiative has been in existence since
1999 to meet the challenges set out by the Scottish Executive to
improve the health and wellbeing of young people across
Scotland.
One of Walk the Talk’s key aims for
2007/8 is the development and delivery of appropriate and
accessible health services in the primary care sector. A reference
group which includes representatives from the National Pharmacy
Association (NPA) and the Royal College of General Practitioners
(RCGP) has been set up to identify the guidance and information
requirements of primary care practitioners. An initial consultation
has been carried out with primary care teams in a number of
locations. However, in order to ensure views across Scotland are
heard, Walk the Talk has launched an online survey to
canvass views more widely and to get a national picture of the gaps
in information and resource requirements for practitioners,
managers and administrators.
Findings from both phases of the research will
be used to inform the provision of training and the development and
production of a range of material resources, with a view to
ensuring more relevant and appropriate service provision for
adolescents and young people aged 14 to 25. These resources will be
designed to meet the needs of practitioners, from GPs, Practice
Nurses, Practice Managers and Receptionists to Community
Pharmacists, and will be launched at a national conference for
primary care teams in early 2008.
For further information on Fast Forward and
the Walk the Talk initiative, please visit
http://www.fastforward.org.uk/
or http://www.walk-the-talk.org.uk/