Improving Vitamin D Uptake in Bolton

Conclusions Increased uptake of vitamin supplements should be encouraged PCTs should think best how to promote uptake of Vitamins for those eligible under Healthy Start benefit PCTs should make Healthy Start Vitamins available to pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers and babies at risk of low Vitamin D but not eligible to the benefit

Action Plan Scoping exercise Focus Group Funding 2008 – Development of a Vitamin D Protocol Launch So thats that done!!!

numbers Under Protocol 2009 – 2010 Children 84 Women – 2011 Children Women – – 2013 Children Women Under Healthy Start Benefit From DH Q % Uptake Healthy Start Vouchers 2.3% Childrens Vitamins 4.1% Womens Vitamins

Findings from Audit Inconsistent discussion on Vitamin D recorded at New Birth Visit Discussion about Healthy Start Benefit for formula feeding mothers Colleagues report discussion would tend to be in baby clinic at subsequent contacts & recorded in PHCHR

This Year Statutory responsibility for the provision of Healthy Start vitamins from April 2013 The amendments ensure that the new commissioning bodies in the health service have responsibility for provision of vitamins locally from April The Departments aim is to make Healthy Start vitamins easily available and ensure that new arrangements will facilitate and encourage increased uptake by Healthy Start beneficiaries and, where it is a local priority, other nutritionally vulnerable population groups.

Current Strategies Continuing promotion and updates for Health Staff Pharmacy involvement in provision of Healthy Start Vitamins Pharmacy campaign December13 – January14 Extend Vitamin D protocol to Pharmacies Harvey Project – 8 month discussion

Challenges Ensuring good staff knowledge/understanding re need for Vitamin D supplementation Budgets Provision of Healthy Start Vitamins via NHS supplies Requirement for wholesale distributor licence