Have you ever visited your GP for something specific – perhaps a sprained ankle or a routine check-up – only to find yourself receiving unsolicited advice about your weight, drinking habits or smoking? Sometimes this guidance feels supportive and timely. Other times it can feel intrusive, judgmental or irrelevant to why you’re there.
These increasingly common experiences aren’t accidental. Since 2016, NHS staff in England have been required to follow a policy called Making Every Contact Count, which mandates that healthcare workers use interactions with patients as an opportunity to encourage healthier lifestyles.
While you may never have heard of this term, if you’ve received unexpected health advice during a medical appointment, you’ve probably encountered this policy in action. Similar initiatives exist in other UK nations and in healthcare systems worldwide.
