The UK's most senior public health nurse has called on primary care and community nurses to capitalise on the success of the Olympic and Paralympic Games by taking every opportunity to pass on healthy living advice to patients.
Viv Bennett, director of nursing for public health at the DH, said the enthusiasm for sport generated by the Games meant many people would be looking to become more active, making them more receptive to opportunistic guidance.
She reminded nurses of the 'every contact counts' programme, which urges health staff to question patients about their lifestyle at every meeting.
'We know a lot about every contact counts, but what we've never managed to do is build quite enough momentum to get people excited about it,' she told Independent Nurse. 'One of the Olympic legacies could be us really getting excited about doing that.'
Professor Bennett said the success of the Olympics was inspiring the work she is currently undertaking with CNO, Jane Cummings, to develop a 'vision and strategy' for nursing, due to be published in the autumn.
'This is a great year to really say: "actually, nursing and midwifery's contribution to public health is vital". We're really going to push forward with the nursing strategy in the year of the Olympics, which I think is a great message.'
Meanwhile, health bosses across the UK have been making the most of 'Olympic fever', launching a series of initiatives designed to help people to get fit.
In London, the 'My Best Move' initiative is encouraging GPs and practice nurses to prescribe physical activities as part of their treatment of willing patients with long-term conditions.
NHS Wales has launched 'Champions for Health', asking 1,000 NHS staff from across the country to improve two aspects of their lifestyle, and encourage their patients to do the same.
Bob Hudson, chief executive of Public Health Wales, said: 'By leading by example, NHS Wales' staff will both improve their own health and act as ambassadors to their patients and the public on the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle and the benefits it brings.'