Caring for those who care: a programme at Canterbury District Health Board is aimed at encouraging all staff to get active and eat well.

Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) is a workplace health promotion programme for Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) employees. The programme began in 2004 as a response to the Ministry of Health's Healthy Eating Healthy Action (HEHA) strategy and now also encompasses the Government's "Walking the Talk" initiatives. It was developed by the the DHB's Community and Public Health which funds and manages the project.

HEAL's mission is to make the healthy choice the easy choice. To this end, a good deal of work is being done to create a workplace environment which encourages all staff--clinical and non-clinical--and contractors and their families to incorporate physical activity and healthy eating into their daily routine. The programme also values active living as an essential part of both personal and corporate well-being.

Sugar removed from vending machines

Through HEAL initiatives, the CDHB has removed 1.8 tonnes of sugar from drink vending machines. There is also a healthy eating policy aimed at having at least 70 percent healthy options in on-site cafeterias and food vending machines. This benefits both staff and visitors. HEAL actively encourages and supports staff to take part in fun active events, such as the City2Surf run. The CDHB has had the biggest corporate entry for the last few years and this year there was a record number of CDHB entries, with a total of 634 staff participating.

HEAL continually works to promote and provide opportunities for staff to be involved in physical activities and healthy eating. One of the key vehicles for this is via the HEAL website (www.heal.org.nz). The website is updated regularly and includes information on local events, different sports and clubs, active transport, low cost activities for children and families, and the benefits of physical activity. Healthy eating information is also provided with menu plans and recipes, shopping tips, myth busters, recipes for children, education about reading nutrition labels and tips for growing your own vegetables.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Last year, HEAL secured HEHA funding to extend the overall project to include a two-year pilot project which focuses on developing and providing "on-the-ground" initiatives at Christchurch Women's Hospital and The Princess Margaret Hospital campuses. A HEAL facilitator has been employed to lead this work. This initiative is supported by CDHB's health and safety team. Late last year staff were encouraged to complete a "tell us what you want" survey to assist HEAL identify and prioritise initiatives for this pilot project.

As a result, walking groups have been established, offering 15 or 30 minute lunch-time or after-shift options. HEAL co-ordinator Kirsten McLachlan said it was important to work around nurses' shift patterns to encourage greater participation and make the new services more accessible. Up to ten staff members are taking part in each of the walking groups and this number is increasing. The various walking routes are included in a pamphlet to allow staff, who cannot attend the walking groups, to do these in their own time.

Exercise classes

There is currently a promotion underway to encourage staff to take the stairs whenever possible, with posters and spot prizes provided as incentives. Exercise classes (circuit and pirates) are about to start and will be available on-site to make physical activity through the winter as easy as possible.

Another major initiative, which will be launched this month, is a new wellness one-to-one lifestyle evaluation programme. This will provide specific, individualised support for staff who are trying to make effective long-term lifestyle changes.

The HEAL programme has an advisory group at management level which approves the direction of the programme. Various working groups sit below this, implementing the initiatives. The programme has recently undergone a process evaluation report. An environmental audit tool has also been carried out CDHB-wide, alongside a NZ Well@Work survey.

HEAL is also about valuing staff. It offers educational resources and ease of access, encouraging nurses and other staff to lead healthy, active lifestyles. Health and safety manager Carole Peterson says "this will have the benefit of increasing wellness and well-being and reducing injuries and illness".

The CDHB is looking forward to measuring the results of its HEAL initiatives in the future.

* I would like to acknowledge the input of HEAL co-ordinator Kirsten McLachlan, CDHB health and safety manager Carole Peterson and communications manager Michelle Hider in developing this article.

Nicola Crossley, BSc (Health related exercise and fitness), is a HEAL co-ordinator, Community and Public Health, Canterbury District Health Board.