NHS spends £30m a year on health and wellbeing coaches

The NHS is spending £30 million a year on health and wellbeing coaches after a hiring spree that patients say would be better spent on doctors. The NHS says health and wellbeing coaches are “experts in behaviour change” and improve patients’ “ability to self-manage, motivation levels and commitment to change their lifestyle”. “Practices should make sure they are fully staffed with GPs before devising trendy new roles like this, as doctors have traditionally given lifestyle advice as part of face-to-face consultations.” Coaches ‘reduce GP workload’ In December 2020, at the first headcount of the profession, there were 60 coaches. ‘More difficult to find work’ GP leaders have said doctors were “finding it more and more difficult to find work” as a result of an NHS initiative – the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme – which allows GP partners, who run their own practice, to have salaries of non-doctor staff reimbursed by the NHS. “Health and wellbeing coaches can play a vital role in supporting and improving the lives of people with long-term conditions including chronic pain and type 2 diabetes.