Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

NHSLatest NewsHealth and safetyOccupational HealthWellbeing

NHS trusts failing to address weight problems

by Personnel Today 6 Jun 2011
by Personnel Today 6 Jun 2011

Just 15% of NHS trusts have a policy or plan to help combat staff obesity, research by the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) and the Faculty of Occupational Medicine has concluded.

The findings have come from an analysis of the first national audit of staff within the NHS by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) published last August.

The analysis also concluded that trusts were failing to follow NICE guidance on physical activity, with only 32% of participant organisations having a plan or policy to encourage and support staff to be more physically active.

The audit, which was co-funded by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, assessed data from 282 NHS trusts responsible for close to 900,000 NHS employees in England.

When NHS trusts had engaged staff and assessed their needs, the audit found they were more likely to have taken actions to improve employee health and wellbeing.

Other findings included:

  • Fewer than one in three offered evidence-based weight management programmes for their staff.
  • Just 31% promoted healthy options for staff in their shops.
  • Out of the 42 trusts that did have a plan or policy for tackling staff obesity, only 13 measured uptake of any programmes by different staff groups such as by grade, gender or ethnicity.

Dr Siân Williams, director of the RCP’s Health and Work Development Unit, said: “The results are very disappointing. There is a growing body of evidence to prove that employers who look after their employees will see a more efficient workforce. Trusts that implement the NICE workplace guidance can expect healthier and more productive staff and better patient outcomes as a result.”

Dr Richard Preece, clinical lead for the audit and consultant in occupational medicine at Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, added: “The credibility of health messages is supported by the lifestyles of health professionals, for example in the reduction and current low levels of smoking among doctors.

“NHS trusts need to take staff health and wellbeing seriously to ensure productivity at a time when there is increased pressure to make efficiency savings.”

Avatar
Personnel Today

previous post
Childcare vouchers: an introduction for employers
next post
Weekly dilemma: Changing terms after a TUPE transfer

You may also like

Lone workers fear their safety is often overlooked

19 Aug 2022

Cost of living crisis risks turning into ‘health...

19 Aug 2022

CV fraudster stripped of earnings after lying about...

19 Aug 2022

New guidance on managing pandemic’s ‘sting in the...

19 Aug 2022

Migrant workers to be asked to fill care...

19 Aug 2022

HMRC employee without driving licence wins disability discrimination...

19 Aug 2022

Huge profits at owner of P&O Ferries in...

19 Aug 2022

Personnel Today Awards 2022 shortlist: Apprenticeship Employer of...

19 Aug 2022

Women’s health, the workplace and ‘big data’ –...

19 Aug 2022

Oven-Ready HR Reheated part 1: Gethin Nadin, Charlotte...

19 Aug 2022

  • 6 reasons why work-based learning is better than traditional training PROMOTED | A recent Fortune/Deloitte survey found that 71% of CEOs are anticipating that this year’s biggest business disrupter...Read more
  • Strengthening Scotland’s public services through virtual recruiting PROMOTED | This website is Scotland's go-to place for job seekers looking to apply for roles in public services...Read more
  • What’s next for L&D? Enter Alchemist… PROMOTED | It’s time to turn off the tedious and get ready for interactive and immersive learning experiences...Read more
  • Simple mistakes are blighting the onboarding experience PROMOTED | The onboarding of new hires is a company’s best chance...Read more

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2022

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2022 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today