Hospital staff in Nottingham are leading by example with the launch of the biggest hospital workplace fitness programmes in the country.

Geoff Cooke, former international cyclist and star of Channel 4’s ‘The Games,’ will be joining staff from Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust to launch Q-Active – a programme aimed at helping thousands of staff be healthier at work.

The initiative will be launched at the Queen’s Medical Centre Campus in Nottingham on Monday 24th April.

A staff activity timetable will be unveiled and a new Wellbeing Room officially opened. During the launch week, there will also be taster sessions for staff – including Nordic Walking, yoga, salsa dancing and aerobics with health and nutrition information.

Q-Active is one of the first dedicated programmes within a UK hospital devoted to removing barriers to participation in exercise and improving the health and wellbeing of staff.

The project has received £300,000 from Active England – an investment programme from Sport England and Big Lottery Fund -  to facilitate innovative ideas including workplace activities.

The project was set up in response to the Government’s 2004 White Paper ‘Choosing Health’.

Dr Sandra Lee, the Active Workforce Manager, said:
“The Trust is committed to improving working lives and we are proud to be leading the way and changing the culture so that staff feel it’s ok to fit exercise into our busy working schedules. Having a fit and healthy workforce benefits everyone, including patients who are in our care. We hope many staff will benefit from the Q-Active programme as this is just the start of this exciting initiative – the first of its kind in the UK.”

Ilana Freestone, Interim Regional Director of Sport England East Midlands, said:
“At Sport England we aim to give people of all ages and abilities the chance to start, stay and succeed in sport and physical activity at every level. The development of the Q-Active programme gives the opportunity for the hospital’s staff to get involved in sport and physical activity and I hope they will take full advantage of it and enjoy what will be on offer."

The first phase of the programme gets underway on Monday 24th April when a new staff Wellbeing Room offering a range of activities and dance classes plus massage and other treatments will be open for the first time.

The Wellbeing Room is a converted smoking room on D floor in South Block on the Queen’s Medical Centre Campus. This was made possible after smoking was banned both inside and outside across both the QMC and City Hospital campuses.

The new staff activity timetable for spring and summer will also be launched whilst an interactive website will enable staff to keep up with the Q-Active programme as it develops over the next two years.

Further information can be found on the Q-Active web site.