Zumba On NHS

NHS staff will be offered exercise classes to help them stay healthy and fit.

17:57 02 September 2015

Simon Stevens, NHS England’s chief executive, will announce plans to offer NHS staff exercise classes to help them stay fit and cut the bill for staff sickness, which currently stands at £2.4bn a year. He will also urge the hospitals to serve healthy food and offer Zumba and yoga classes.

 

Mr Stevens will say: "NHS staff have some of the most critical but demanding jobs in the country.

 

"When it comes to supporting the health of our own workforce, frankly the NHS needs to put its own house in order."

 

Christina McAnea, from Unison, said: "The health and wellbeing of NHS staff at work has a direct impact on patients, and this initiative rightly starts recognising that.

 

"Addressing physical and mental health issues is important and a step in the right direction as it will help tackle some of the major causes of stress at work.

 

"NHS staff experience some of the highest levels of stress and violence in the country, and this can no longer be tolerated.

 

"Health unions will be working with employers and NHS England on these issues."