In July, the Healthy London Partnership launched NHS Go, a new website and mobile phone app aimed at young people. These new digital resources aim to:

• Give young people greater control over their health;
• Enable young people to make healthier choices;
• Provide trusted advice and information on a range of health issues.

The app is aimed at 16-26 year olds after young people stated that they wanted better and easier access to health and wellbeing information.  In creating the app and website the NHS worked with young people at all stages of development. They have also recruited well-known YouTube vloggers to not only promote the app but raise awareness of a number of health issues.

One of the YouTube vloggers supporting this campaign is the very popular hair vlogger Laila whose YouTube channel, Fusion of Cultures, has over 179,000 subscribers. As well as creating a promotional video with other vloggers, Laila has also discussed mental health touching on anxiety, suicide and depression.

Black Health is Covered in NHS Go

NHS Go has a section on black health. This section starts with diabetes, explaining how young people can reduce their risk of developing diabetes. There is a also a personal story from diabetic Brian Hunte, a Trinidadian who lives in London  and was diagnosed with diabetes 24 years ago. He shares his story telling of how diabetes affects his daily life

“When I was diagnosed with diabetes, it was a surprise. I didn’t feel unwell, but I had been losing weight and I felt thirsty all the time. I was drinking lots of water and going to the loo more often. I had to get up twice in the night to urinate, which wasn’t normal for me.” – Brian Hunte, diabetic

Another black health issue that NHS Go covers is vitamin D. Black people are more likely to have a vitamin D deficiency because melanin blocks the sun’s UV rays and therefore reduces our skin’s ability to make vitamin D.  The NHS Go app gives young people advice on how to get enough vitamin D discussing diet and safe levels of sun exposure.

The app also touches on prostate cancer with a moving testimony from Darcus Howe, high blood pressure, stroke, skin-lightening, mental health and keloid scars.

 Useful App

The NHS Go is a useful resource for young people and if you’re a young person and have a general question about your health please do make use of the app. If you think you have a serious health issue or have symptoms  that you are concerned about please make an appointment to visit your GP.

You can download NHS Go from the Google Play Store or itunes

 

NHS England has announced the start of their new project, the 100,000 Genomes Project, in early 2015. The project aims to sequence 100,000 genomes within three years to determine the genetic mutations that lead to various cancers and rare diseases. This will enable targeted treatments to be developed for a wide range of conditions.

Doctors will be able to refer patients with relevant diseases, who are interested in taking part, to one of 11 Genomic Medicine Centres for inclusion in the project. Samples will be collected, genetic sequencing carried out and the data analysed.

NHS England are hoping to recruit 75,000 patients and The Lake Foundation is encouraging members of the African Caribbean community to take part to ensure that minorities are well represented and any ethnic genetic differences are identified.