An Olympic athlete inspired NHS nurses and midwives to live more healthy lifestyles in a ground-breaking project at the Homerton Hospital. Sponsored by the drinks company Coca-Cola Great Britain, Shani Anderson, who competed in the Sydney Olympics and won bronze at the 2002 Commonwealth Games, was employed to undertake health and wellbeing coaching on-site.
In a report released by 2020health today, Healthworks Homerton: Creating a healthy workforce in the NHS details a project that was described by staff as a ‘wake-up call’. It promoted gym membership, healthy eating and good lifestyle habits to staff at work, with the crucial component of Shani providing on-site advice, coaching and support. The “Healthworks at Homerton” programme encouraged the hospital to look more widely at their place within the community, in line with the recommendations of the Boorman Report.
“NHS Trusts should not only be a place for healthcare delivery, but a resource for those wishing to stay healthy. HealthWorks is a positive account of private sector involvement in the NHS which we hope will be an inspiration to others,” says Julia Manning, Chief Executive.
Jon Woods, Coca-Cola Country Manager for Great Britain and Ireland said, “At Coca-Cola we see it as vitally important that our involvement with sport and fitness is not just about high profile events but also engages ordinary people with busy lives.”
“And today’s report into HealthWorks at Homerton tells of over 600 people attending the health festival, nearly 200 people attending weekly classes ranging from Pilates and netball to Nordic walking.”
“It’s clear to see that HealthWorks has the strength to live on and grow – and I’m delighted that as it does
Coca-Cola will be there to support it.”
Nancy Hallett, Chief Executive of Homerton University Hospital Foundation says in the report, “HealthWorks has been a real success at Homerton and has engendered a sense of community and a feel good factor that is impossible to measure in numbers.”
2020health Press Release
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