A GP surgery in Cardiff has won a Healthy Workplace Award after working with Diabetes UK Cymru to increase awareness of healthy lifestyles.
Practice manager Nichola Williams, invited Diabetes UK Cymru to the practice to help staff and clinicians increase their knowledge of how healthy lifestyle changes could make a difference to their wellbeing.
Eating well, moving more and maintaining a healthy weight can all reduce your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. As many as three in five cases of the condition can be prevented or delayed by embracing these changes.
Healthy workforces
The Healthy Working Wales awards are a prestigious national accreditation, supporting employers across Wales to improve the health and wellbeing of their staff. They help organisations address issues such as reducing stress and sickness absence and improving staff engagement.
Nichola said, “The practice has always considered itself mindful of the wellbeing of our staff, but the scheme helped us take it further: reducing stressors and encouraging the team to work together, while raising greater awareness of how healthy lifestyle choices could improve our general wellbeing.
“Diabetes UK Cymru came in and shared knowledge to educate staff and clinicians on healthy eating, alcohol consumption and exercise. They also inspired us to take part in the One Million Step Challenge and kept track of our steps over the course of a month. All participants completed the challenge within just three weeks and it has encouraged many of us to increase our activity on a daily basis.”
Much greater awareness
Nichola said the scheme has been a great success.
“We were all aware of the importance of healthy lifestyles, but taking part in this scheme has really broadened our understanding. Thanks to Diabetes UK Cymru there is much greater awareness of the units in alcoholic drinks. We all found the dietary advice very interesting and the large majority of our staff have taken up or increased their level of exercise!”
The team were delighted to be presented with their Silver Award by the Minister for Health and Social Services, Vaughan Gething AM, at a special ceremony at the Principality Stadium.
Nichola said: “The award now has pride of place in our reception area. We’re all very proud with all we have achieved and continue to work closely with Diabetes UK Cymru on providing education to patients diagnosed as having prediabetes.”
Congratulations to the team at Birchgrove Surgery. We look forward to continuing to work together.
