NHS Pilot: “Chewie” Workers Bring Healthcare to Doorsteps, Cutting Hospital Visits & Boosting Screenings
London, UK – June 30, 2025 – A groundbreaking NHS pilot program is delivering significant results in some of England’s most deprived communities, thanks to a dedicated team of “Community Health and wellbeing Workers” (CHWWs) affectionately nicknamed “Chewies.” Thes workers are going door-to-door, providing vital support and streamlining healthcare access for patients, leading to a notable decrease in hospital admissions and a surge in preventative care uptake.
The program, inspired by a triumphant model in Brazil, sees CHWWs like Jessica Ellis working directly with patients in their homes. Ellis’s recent visit to Mr. Jaber Dikir, a patient struggling with heart failure and mobility issues, exemplifies the program’s impact. She successfully advocated for at-home blood tests, eliminating the difficulty of mr. Dikir travelling to a clinic
.
“She hears you, she listens to you,” Mr. Dikir shared, praising Ellis’s understanding and proactive approach. “She understands everything. She even called the doctor… I couldn’t walk properly, I couldn’t go to the clinic.”
The role of the CHWWs is described as “making life easier”
