Improving Vitamin D Uptake in Bolton

Age group of women

19-24 25-34 35-49 50-64

Percentage of women

0

20

40

60

80

25-OH vitamin D <50 nmol /l

25-OH vitamin D <25 nmol /l

25-OH vitamin D <20 nmol /l

All Bangladeshi Indian Pakistani

% of children - low 25OH vitamin D

0

10

20

30

40

General Bangladeshi Pakistani Indian

% having vitamins at 2

0

20

40

60

80

100

Conclusions

Increased uptake of vitamin supplements should be encouragedPCTs should think best how to promote uptake of Vitamins for those eligible under Healthy Start benefitPCT’s 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 that’s that done!!!

numbers

Under Protocol• 2009 – 2010

Children 84Women 12

2010 – 2011Children - 180Women – 596

2012 – 2013Children - 682Women - 528

Under Healthy Start BenefitFrom DH 2012-’13 - Q 476.7% Uptake Healthy Start Vouchers2.3% Children’s Vitamins4.1% Women’s 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 2013.

• The Department’s 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 December’13 – January’14

• 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