Tackling NHS Staff Obesity

NHS managers have expressed a concern over the rising levels of obesity amongst its staff and have asked the leisure industry for help.

NHS England’s chief executive Simon Stevens has said that the leisure industry could play a vital role in helping to deal with obesity amongst its staff. He has admitted that the NHS has not always been the role model to the public that it should be. After all, it may look a bit odd to receive a lecture from your GP on your weight when they are also overweight.

When you consider that the NHS sees more than 1 million patients every 24 hours that’s a lot of people that may be influenced the wrong way.

The Challenge

The challenge could be huge. The NHS remains one of Europe’s largest employers with more than 1.3 million members of staff. A recent survey has found that of this number a staggering 700,000 employees are estimated to be overweight or even obese. In addition to the fact that this will not inspire patents there are other problems. Overweight staff are often ill and so staff taking sick days will cost the NHS in lost work days.

The initiative

Over the past year the NHS has tried to give its staff access to trainers and dieticians so that they can receive help and advice on diet and exercise. In addition discounts have been negotiated with local gyms to allow NHS staff to use them when maybe before cost would have been an issue.

But Stevens has admitted that the challenge is huge and will involve a lot of organisations working together,  “We are trying to get a bit of bandwagon going here and my plea to those of you working in the leisure sector, in gyms or in local councils is to proactively go and seek out your local hospital, community trust, ambulance service and begin this dialogue with them about how you too can advance this agenda.”

Other ideas include the banning of sugary drinks and snacks from hospitals, after all it has always seemed an odd one to see unhealthy food and drink in hospital vending machines.

Summary

In summary, NHS managers are saying that they want the NHS to start practicing what it preaches. With rising tooth decay, obesity and type 2 diabetes the NHS could be leading the way and encouraging and influencing patients rather than mirroring what they see in front of them.

The fitness industry could also play a vital role in offering deals and packages to NHS employees. In the same way as students often get discounts maybe the future will see NHS staff treated in the same way.