The Health Promotion Department
is part of Fife Primary Care NHS Trust. Based at Haig House, Cameron Hospital.
We provide a specialist health promotion service for the whole of Fife.
This includes those who work in the NHS, Fife Council, the voluntary sector,
local businesses and the community at large.
Map showing location of Fife Health Promotion Department
Our starting point is an amended WHO definition of health, which states that health is:
'the ability to have and reach
goals, meet personal needs and cope with everyday life'
(adapted from WHO Ottawa Charter for Health, 1986)
As we work within the health service we recognise the value of an illness-based approach to health, which focuses on the individual. However, we welcome the reorientation and blending of recent health and social policy directives towards joint action and the underlying factors, which influence health and individual health behaviour.
The pivotal role of the department is to maintain and improve mental, physical and social health and collectively contribute to the well being of the people who live and work in Fife.
The Health Promotion Department
of Fife Primary Care NHS Trust aims to improve the health and well being
of all people in Fife.
The Health Promotion Officers work mainly, although not exclusively, with
professionals in the health service, workplace, education and community,
and co-ordinators in the voluntary sector rather than directly with the
public. However, public involvement and the principle of 'starting from
where the people are at' are integral to our work practice.
The Department provides a range of services, including training, project development and a wide variety of health information and resources.
We contribute to the development and implementation of strategies and policies which impact on health. This is typically undertaken on a Fife-wide basis and involves working with the Fife Council and local businesses as well as the NHS.
We develop and facilitate educational initiatives and training. These can be both skills and/or topic based.
We act as facilitators, enablers and advocates with communities and/or particular interest groups.
We initiate, manage and evaluate programmes of work and specific health projects.
We provide, advice, information, resources and practical support to anyone involved in health promotion activity. This can be on a one-to-one basis with individual officers or through our Information and Resources Centre.
We provide a materials development service, principally to support the work of the department but also to support those with whom we work.
Staff have a variety of remits, which include specialist issues (e.g. mental health) priority groups (e.g. young people), specific settings (e.g. workplace) and geographical localities (i.e. North East, Central and West).
They are ably supported by graphic designers and a team of administrative and clerical staff who also run our Information and Resources Centre. A team of sessional workers is also employed through the Parent Education Initiative.