Member Article

Healthier workplaces for the New Year

The New Year’s lifestyle change is set to receive a boost for employees of one organisation in the region as Sport England North East wins an NHS award for its commitment to creating a healthy workplace. The Working for Health Award is a local award scheme for County Durham Primary Care Trust which encourages employers to protect and promote the health of their employees by creating a healthier workplace and organisation.

Promoting lunchtime walks around the area, banning smoking on the premises and offering health checks to staff were a few of the improvements that helped Sport England achieve their goal.

Ian Gardiner, interim regional director at Sport England North East says: “With New Year’s resolutions being made and everyone in the spirit of health, fitness and detox we believe our award gives support and encouragement to our employees who are trying to make a change. “We believe it’s important to continue to improve as the bronze award is only the first step and like any committed sports person we are striving for gold.”

Elaine Jackson, health promotion specialist at County Durham Primary Care Trust, says: “British industry is currently loosing about £13 billion every year from sickness – that’s equivalent to around 30 million sick days. We believe everyone should do what they can to reduce this figure, and our awards are a way of measuring some of the work done.”

Any workplace can participate in the scheme and will be given support and assistance from a health promotion specialist in their area. More information can be found on the County Durham & Darlington Health Promotion website at www.health-promotion.cdd.nhs.uk.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .