For the ninth consecutive year NHS Forth Valley has maintained the bronze and silver awards as a Healthy Working Lives (HWL) employer. The national programme promotes health, safety and wellbeing in the workplace and in NHS Forth Valley a steering group takes this work forward for all staff.
Examples of initiatives between September 2016 and August 2017 include:
- Staff told us through The Big Staff Health Quiz of 2016 that exposure to second-hand smoke can be an issue, specifically when carrying out home visits. We shared this learning with colleagues in the Forth Valley Tobacco Action Group and at a National level. As a result, resources are being developed that positively address this issue. We shall keep staff informed of progress.
- A rolling programme of information campaigns has been promoted on the 86 HWL noticeboards throughout the organisation. These have been shared with local businesses who are also taking forward HWL. Examples range from reducing stigma around HIV to physical activity opportunities for staff, such as cycling, walking, fitness classes and gym memberships.
- We have worked with ‘See Me Champions’ to encourage staff to talk about working together to reduce the stigma around mental health and wellbeing. NHSFV staff and volunteers joined a ‘Walk a Mile in My Shoes’ in the grounds of Forth Valley Royal where we paired up and talked to each other about how we were feeling that day.
- Another new partnership has been with The Stirling Cycle Hub. Together with Recyke-a-Bike they supported ‘Wheely Wednesdays’ outside Forth Valley Royal Hospital carrying out free bike checks. A roll-out to Stirling Community Hospital is planned this year.
For more information about Healthy Working Lives throughout NHSFV please contact the Healthy Working Lives Group Chair: Hazel.Meechan@nhs.net with your questions and ideas.
