It’s well documented that staff who are appreciated by their employers are more likely to stay in the workplace, and a healthy workforce is a happy one.
However, sickness is still a major issue for the NHS – one of Europe’s largets employers – with healthcare staff nearly twice as likely to be off sick as those working in the private sector. Two of the biggest causes of leave are musculoskeletal problems, such as back pain, and mental health problems. While it’s important that individuals take responsibility for their own health and wellbeing, there is increasing support for the theory that healthcare employers could implement more proactive measures to reduce leave and keep staff healthy – including physiotherapy, smoking cessation and weight management services, as well as sports or exercise classes.
At the NHS Innovation Expo conference in Manchester last week, when the NHS England chief executive, Simon Stevens, outlined his £5m solution for cutting the health service’s bill for staff sickness – which stands at £2.4bn a year – he said hospitals can help staff stay well by serving healthy food and running Zumba and yoga classes. Stevens also added that GPs should be offered specialist support to avoid burnout. This shows there is a recognition that creating healthy and supportive workplaces is no longer a “nice to have, it’s a must do”.
While many people will no doubt support the ethos behind the announcement, there will also be those who feel they just won’t have the time or energy for “extra-curricular” exercise. For those thinking of putting their best foot forward, here is a round-up of some of the latest advice on how to stay healthy when juggling the nation’s healthcare.
Let’s get physical
According to NHS guidelines, to be physically fit the average adult needs should do at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity such as cycling or fast walking every week, and strength exercises on two or more days a week that work all the major muscles (legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders and arms). Even doing 30 minutes of intensive exercise on two days will have a beneficial impact on your general health and happiness. If you do shift work it’s even more essential to schedule in regular exercise classes as numerous studies have shown that this working pattern – adopted by large parts of the NHS - can cause employees to gain weight.
Managing sleep around shift work
People who sleep the recommended seven to nine hours each day are healthier, fitter, and less likely to suffer from obesity or other health issues than those who don’t sleep well. Remember that you can space out sleep with naps if a single period of rest isn’t possible with your working schedule. Here are some hints and tips for shift workers.
Eat well
When you’re working on the frontline in healthcare, it’s difficult to get time for breaks and easy to rely on sugary snacks and salty foods to “keep you going”. However, this can turn into a bad habit, replacing regular nutritious meals and risking damage to your health. If you are doing shift work and need energy, making simple food swap choices such as bananas or dried fruit nuts over chocolate will help stave off weight gain considerably. Additionally, even though it takes planning, it’s worth the effort to try to prepare balanced meals in advance before your shift, so they’re ready to eat when you get home.
Try to support each other in difficult situations
Stress is believed to account for more than 30% of sickness absence in the NHS, costing the service £300-£400m per year. The latest NHS annual survey found that 30% of NHS staff reported they had suffered from work-related stress. The Health and Safety Executive defines stress as an adverse reaction that people have to excessive pressures or other types of demands placed on them. Stress can happen in different ways but there are common factors that can lead to stress and poor health. Some NHS staff have to deal with violent and unpredictable patients, others deal with traumatic and harrowing circumstances, others have a lack of support or are not receiving enough communication about changes affecting them. If you’re feeling affected by any of these issues, it’s important that you confide in your colleagues or senior staff so your employer can provide the right support.
Keep your skills up
Continuous professional development is an integral part of any career in healthcare and it’s important for staff to keep up to date with the necessary skills and training. Having the right skills to perform a role not only improves the delivery of patient care, but helps staff to feel confident, fulfilled and valued in their work and opens up more potential career opportunities.
Here are some other recommended resources via NHS Employers:
- How are you feeling - Emotional and wellbeing toolkit
- Everything you need to know about sickness absence – a simple guide for NHS managers
To find out how Skills for Health can help support you or your organisation in planning motivated and sustainable workforce, contact us today.
Content on this page is produced and paid for by Skills for Health, sponsor of the Guardian Healthcare Professionals Network’s workforce development hub
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