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| Exercise classes help cut NHS staff sickness rates | Exercise classes help cut NHS staff sickness rates |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| Five years ago, Liverpool's Walton Centre, a specialist NHS hospital treating injuries to the brain, spine and nervous system, had a problem. | Five years ago, Liverpool's Walton Centre, a specialist NHS hospital treating injuries to the brain, spine and nervous system, had a problem. |
| Too many of its staff were themselves falling sick. | Too many of its staff were themselves falling sick. |
| It's an issue common to the rest of the NHS in the UK, where staff sickness rates have been much higher than in the rest of the economy. | It's an issue common to the rest of the NHS in the UK, where staff sickness rates have been much higher than in the rest of the economy. |
| Today the situation at the Walton Centre is much improved - so how have they done it? | Today the situation at the Walton Centre is much improved - so how have they done it? |
| The hospital's Intensive Therapy Unit (ITU) is where some of the sickest patients are cared for. | The hospital's Intensive Therapy Unit (ITU) is where some of the sickest patients are cared for. |
| They are people such as Frances, who just a few weeks ago was leading a normal life until she fell victim to a devastating stroke. | They are people such as Frances, who just a few weeks ago was leading a normal life until she fell victim to a devastating stroke. |
| Taking a toll | Taking a toll |
| Helping her recovery is physiotherapist Katy Walker, who gently encourages Frances through a series of exercises. | Helping her recovery is physiotherapist Katy Walker, who gently encourages Frances through a series of exercises. |
| As she explains, the job can take its toll, both physically and mentally. | As she explains, the job can take its toll, both physically and mentally. |
| "These patients are quite dependent, they've lost a lot of muscle tone in the time they've been sedated and ventilated on the ITU, so getting them up can be quite physically demanding. | "These patients are quite dependent, they've lost a lot of muscle tone in the time they've been sedated and ventilated on the ITU, so getting them up can be quite physically demanding. |
| "But it's also mentally demanding; obviously you gain a rapport with your patients and so you progress with them and if they have setbacks it can be quite stressful for you as well." | "But it's also mentally demanding; obviously you gain a rapport with your patients and so you progress with them and if they have setbacks it can be quite stressful for you as well." |
| A short while later, Katy can be found in one of the hospital's rehabilitation gyms. | A short while later, Katy can be found in one of the hospital's rehabilitation gyms. |
| But it's not work that brings her here - well, not exactly. | But it's not work that brings her here - well, not exactly. |
| Exercise as therapy | Exercise as therapy |
| Equipment and chairs have been moved to the side of the room and a group of enthusiastic women carry out complicated netball drills, moving the ball up and down, passing and shooting. | Equipment and chairs have been moved to the side of the room and a group of enthusiastic women carry out complicated netball drills, moving the ball up and down, passing and shooting. |
| It looks like a tiring session, particularly as they are having to repeat drills for our TV camera, but there is much laughter and chat. | It looks like a tiring session, particularly as they are having to repeat drills for our TV camera, but there is much laughter and chat. |
| For Katy, it is an essential part of her working week. | For Katy, it is an essential part of her working week. |
| "Keeping fit and exercising, I think it helps you to eat healthily, just to be physically healthy, mentally healthy. | "Keeping fit and exercising, I think it helps you to eat healthily, just to be physically healthy, mentally healthy. |
| "So that definitely contributes to a healthy lifestyle and cutting sickness rates." | "So that definitely contributes to a healthy lifestyle and cutting sickness rates." |
| The netball team was set up a couple of years ago as part of the hospital's response to the high level of staff sickness. | The netball team was set up a couple of years ago as part of the hospital's response to the high level of staff sickness. |
| With a workforce of around 1,300, sickness rates were running at an average of more than 7% a year. | With a workforce of around 1,300, sickness rates were running at an average of more than 7% a year. |
| At times, that figure could be much higher, for example during an outbreak of winter flu. | At times, that figure could be much higher, for example during an outbreak of winter flu. |
| Sickness costs money | Sickness costs money |
| Sickness rates matter because they reflect the health and wellbeing of staff who, in turn, are expected to care for their patients. | Sickness rates matter because they reflect the health and wellbeing of staff who, in turn, are expected to care for their patients. |
| But as chief executive Chris Harrop explains, high rates of sickness also have a financial implication. | But as chief executive Chris Harrop explains, high rates of sickness also have a financial implication. |
| "You have to run a service, so you have to backfill, quite often you're using very expensive methods to do that. | "You have to run a service, so you have to backfill, quite often you're using very expensive methods to do that. |
| "Traditionally we've used a lot of agency staff, for medics we use locums, and obviously that comes with a cost. | "Traditionally we've used a lot of agency staff, for medics we use locums, and obviously that comes with a cost. |
| "It's also the impact on other colleagues as well, so to sustain that level of sickness it has a significant impact on the people who are left on the front lines." | "It's also the impact on other colleagues as well, so to sustain that level of sickness it has a significant impact on the people who are left on the front lines." |
| So managers and unions decided something needed to be done and the idea of activity and exercise classes took off. | So managers and unions decided something needed to be done and the idea of activity and exercise classes took off. |
| Now, as well as netball, there is a staff football team, a running club, Pilates classes, massage and aromatherapy, weight management programmes and a host of other schemes and activities. | Now, as well as netball, there is a staff football team, a running club, Pilates classes, massage and aromatherapy, weight management programmes and a host of other schemes and activities. |
| All are designed to increase physical activity, relieve stress and improve the health and wellbeing - physical and mental - of staff. | All are designed to increase physical activity, relieve stress and improve the health and wellbeing - physical and mental - of staff. |
| Sick note culture? | Sick note culture? |
| The Walton Centre's success has been reflected in a string of workplace awards. | The Walton Centre's success has been reflected in a string of workplace awards. |
| And that figure of 7% sickness from 2010 is now just around 4%, on a par with the rest of the NHS in England. | And that figure of 7% sickness from 2010 is now just around 4%, on a par with the rest of the NHS in England. |
| Physician, heal thyself | Physician, heal thyself |
| Mike Gibney, the Walton Centre's director of workforce, says the NHS presents a unique combination of physical and mental stress. | Mike Gibney, the Walton Centre's director of workforce, says the NHS presents a unique combination of physical and mental stress. |
| But he believes looking after staff wellbeing also helps improve the quality of care for patients. | But he believes looking after staff wellbeing also helps improve the quality of care for patients. |
| "Hospitals run on goodwill. Everybody does over their allotted number of hours. | "Hospitals run on goodwill. Everybody does over their allotted number of hours. |
| "So it just helps with building that good culture; staff feeling valued so they can value patients." | "So it just helps with building that good culture; staff feeling valued so they can value patients." |
| A healthy workforce means better care for patients and offers the chance to save money on staff costs. | A healthy workforce means better care for patients and offers the chance to save money on staff costs. |
| Those are two key goals for the NHS and staff at the Walton Centre believe they are leading the way. | Those are two key goals for the NHS and staff at the Walton Centre believe they are leading the way. |
| Does your workplace encourage wellbeing and fitness? You can share your comments by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | |
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