Hospitals are traditionally seen as the place where people are diagnosed, cured or cared for when they are ill.   While this remains our core role, hospitals like our own are playing an increasingly important role in promoting health. 

Each year almost 25% of local people attend our hospitals as outpatients, daycases or inpatients.  Many others come to the site as visitors.  We are also the second largest employer in the county.  This contact with so many people offers a real opportunity to raise awareness of aspects of health and wellbeing and lifestyle.

Health and wellbeing is a key element of the wider national Sustainable Development agenda, which also covers a range of other areas including carbon reduction and community engagement.

This page describes some of our initiatives and highlights places where you can find more information about lifestyle, health and wellbeing.

 

Health and Wellbeing Group

The Trust's Health and Wellbeing Group provides the focus for health and wellbeing activities within the hospitals - for patients, visitors and staff.

The group is lead jointly by the Director of Clinical Strategy and the Director of Human Resources and Organisational Development.   Membership is drawn from all areas of the Trust, including:

• human resources
• occupational health
• nursing
• dietetics
• physiotherapy
• catering
• estates
• staff representive
• patient and public involvement
• communications
• clinical strategy

 Joint working is important in this field of work and local public health colleagues and smoking cessation specialists are also actively involved.  Trust Governors also contribute to the group. 

 

Health and Wellbeing Strategy

The Group has recently been working to develop a broad Health and Wellbeing Strategy for the Trust.  This focuses on areas identified as national and local priorities, which are set out in the multi-agency Health and Community Wellbeing Strategy for Gloucestershire.   The Trust's strategy is supported by an annual work programme.

 

 Some of our Health and Wellbeing initiatives

• smokefree site
• smoking cessation policies and support for patients and staff
• Baby Friendly status - promoting breastfeeding
• green travel initiatives - our shuttlebus and cycle to work schemes
• health information rooms
• awareness days and campaigns and displays in the Children's Centre
• healthy options on menus
• use of seasonal produce and local suppliers
• raising lifestyle issues in patient assessments

Health and wellbeing of our staff

We recognise that a healthy, engaged workforce also brings positive benefits for patients.  We work to provide support and opportunities for staff to maintain their health in a range of ways, including:

• access to subsidised swimming and discounted gym membership
• smoking cessation support
• occupational health  - through Working Well (see below)
• staff support
• childcare facilities and family friendly working
• cycle to work schemes
• staff sun awareness sessions
• self-referral to physiotherapy

Working Well - Occupational Health services for Trust staff

Working Well is part of 2gether NHS Foundation Trust and helps Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust promote and protect the health and wellbeing of their workforce, offering independent advice to both managers and employees on health, the working environment, health risks associated with the workplace and any occupational implications. As an NHS occupational health provider Working Well are concerned about the effects of work on employees’ health, and the effects of health on the Trust. Working Well's approach is founded on a growing evidence base that working is good for our health. They aim to support employees to sustain a happy, healthy and productive workforce.

Please click on www.workingwell2gether.nhs.uk/  to visit the Working Well website for further information about services, accessibility and current locations. If you are a member of staff and would like to contact Working Well, please call 0300 422 5165 or email .

Stretch Break Exercises

Why not take a few minutes to try these simple stretch break exercises, especially if you spend a lot of time at your desk?  They are also useful if you are holding a long meeting or training session when people are sitting down for extended periods.    Click on the Stretch Break link for easy instructions.

Further information

NHS Choices website

For further information on a range of health and wellbeing topics, visit the NHS Choices Live Well website.

Change4Life

The national Change4Life website also offers a vast range of ideas, games and resources for getting and staying healthier - for families and for adults.  For more information, go to the Change4Life website.

Activity Factsheets for people of different ages

The Department of Health has developed five Physical Activity Factsheets, with brief guidance on activity levels for people of different ages.   Click on the titles below to view the guidance.

Factsheet 1 - Early Years (infants not yet walking)

Factsheet 2 - Early Years  (children who are walking)

Factsheet 3 - Children and Young People (to 18 years)

Factsheet 4 - Adults (19-64 years)

Factsheet 5 - Adults (65+ years)