DoingOurBit | Why we need an active and happy NHS

Why We Need an Active and Happy NHS

Movement, community and nutrition are the three cornerstones of my personal and professional life. But this was not always the full story. Not so long ago I was overweight, far from active and, most definitely, not practising what I should have been preaching.

That was Then; This is Now

Losing weight and realising the physical and mental health benefits of being active spurred me to be a lifestyle medic, clinical advisor to Swim England and the Royal College of General Practitioners’ lifestyle and physical activity lead. That was some change, I can tell you.

NHS: Are We Fit for Purpose?

NHS staff should be active, fit and well not just for their own wellbeing but to be credible advisors, role models and prescribers of physical activity for their patients. It seems so obvious that if we are trying to make (and keep) people fit and healthy we should be living role models. But I’m very aware that the demands of our jobs do not make it as easy and straightforward to achieve. Encouragement and support from fitness professionals is vital to help get us started and keep us on track.

Being Fit will Help You in Your Daily Work

An active NHS worker will be better able to cope with their workload. And better informed to advise their patients to be active. That also seems straightforward but, remember, the majority of NHS staff are neither trained nor expert in the provision of physical activity.

This year’s 75th anniversary of the NHS was marred by the release of figures that showed staff sickness reached a record high last year, with the health service losing almost 75,000 staff to illness. All our wonderful hard work spoiled by an unwelcome headline. But, in truth, it is our reality.

Protecting You…and it’s Free!

NHS staff are the gatekeepers to preventative health and we must protect you. A route to this is this wonderful DoingOurBit one-stop shop for fitness, health and wellness via on-demand sessions and mental wellbeing resources.

Not only is it packed with ideas for all levels of fitness, DoingOurBit is completely free for users. It is literally a gift for NHS and social care staff. With the current cost of living crisis making it even more crucial to safeguard our physical and mental health, DoingOurBit has come to the rescue.

My Top Tips for Getting Started:

Find something you enjoy. You are not going to stick at something you don’t. It may take some attempts before you find it enjoyable: I certainly did not enjoy my first run!
Start small but dream big. Aim for manageable chunks of activity. Just because you don’t have an hour free, 10 minutes of movement still counts and is so beneficial. See if you can engineer it into your routine such as taking the stairs or parking a bit further from where you need to be.
Believe in yourself. The biggest barrier to growth, change and improvement is often our own mind. Tell yourself out loud and proud what you have achieved each day.
Be persistent. Motivation is good but discipline and routine are what you need to make activity a daily habit. We all know bad habits are hard to break…well, good ones are pretty tough to shake off, too.

I’m living proof of the power of activity on your physical and mental health and am absolutely committed to helping other people feel better. Much of my work is with patients and the general public which I love. DoingOurBit is different in that gives me a great opportunity to signpost you, my colleagues, to get involved, get moving and feel better.