Health 4 You
South Canterbury DHB Healthy Workplace Programme
At South Canterbury DHB we make it easy for staff to exercise and look after their personal health.
Click Here to download a "Healthy Opportunities for Staff" Brochure
1. "Healthy by Choice" Survey
We want to empower employees to take responsibility for their own health and wellbeing.
All staff have recently been offered a free health assessment, an online health report and tools to deal with health and lifestyle issues.
The results of the survey will help each staff member to understand and monitor their own health status. They will also enable SCDHB to understand what common health issues our staff face.
Staff who want to log in to their personal health check report can Click Here
To access other Healthy By Choice resources including interactive programmes to help you change your lifestyle Click Here
2. Subsidised Gym Memberships for Staff
The DHB has negotiated an offer to staff of gym memberships at a greatly reduced price. These memberships are at the Performance Training Company in Heaton Street - situated about the same distance from the hospital and our services at Woollcombe Street.
The cost to DHB staff is $140 for a full years membership (equal to $2.75 a week). Memberships are for one year and expire on July 31, 2011. The DHB may decide to continue to subsidise gym memberships after that date, but this will depend on how successful the programme has been.
To sign up to the gym membership offer or for more information, email Human Resources at hradmin@scdhb.health.nz
3. Free Swimming at Council Swimming Pools
SCDHB staff can swim for free at any Timaru District Council swimming pool. This offer applies for the two years leading up to the building of the new Caroline Bay Aquatic Centre, planned for 2012. Council swimming pools are located in Timaru at Century Park and Maori Park, at Temuka, Geraldine and Pleasant Point.
A SCDHB identity card must be shown to gain entry to the pool. This offer does not apply to family members.
For more information contact Human Resources at hradmin@scdhb.health.nz
4. Zumba/Fitness Classes for Staff
SCDHB is planning to continue Zumba Classes for staff in 2011. For information about price, time and date for the next block of classes contact Healthy Eating, Healthy Action (HEHA) coordinator Syd Horgan at shorgan@scdhb.health.nz
5. Employee Assistance Programme
Six sessions of free counselling with a qualified professional are available for staff experiencing difficulties. This is to help employees overcome personal difficulties that are affecting, or have the potential to affect their work. This service is also available for staff who are experiencing any form of family violence. This is a free, confidential service. For information contact Human Resources Advisor Ross Yarrall at ryarrall@tscdhb.health.nz. For information about family violence and local resources visit the Are You Ok website or phone 0800 456 450.
6. Hadlow to Harbour Sponsorship and Free Entry for Staff
South Canterbury DHB is a major sponsor of the annual Hadlow to Harbour fun run and walk. This usually takes place each March. Members of staff who take part have their entry fee paid by the district health board and also receive a free t-shirt. The Hadlow to Harbour event is a great training goal for staff. In 2010 the SCDHB staff team was the largest team in the event with 109 members. For information contact Healthy Eating, Healthy Action (HEHA) coordinator Syd Horgan at shorgan@scdhb.health.nz
7. Pedometer Challenge
Each April and May staff are challenged to increase their daily steps to the ideal 10,000 per day. SCDHB lends out pedometers to all staff taking part in this challenge, and in 2010 the number of staff who took part was 257. For information contact Healthy Eating, Healthy Action (HEHA) coordinator Syd Horgan at shorgan@scdhb.health.nz
8. Bikewise Month
SCDHB supports staff to cycle to work and this is the focus of Bikewise Month and "Go By Bike Day" each February. Bike stands are provided. For information contact Healthy Eating, Healthy Action (HEHA) coordinator Syd Horgan at shorgan@scdhb.health.nz
9. Sea to Sea Challenge
This community-wide challenge encourages people to walk or run the same distance as coast to coast over an extended time period. Staff form teams and compare progress. SCDHB promotes this event to staff and supports them, for example by promoting walking routes near the hospital. For information contact Healthy Eating, Healthy Action (HEHA) coordinator Syd Horgan at shorgan@scdhb.health.nz
10. Lets Go Walking
Eight walking routes that start and finish at Timaru Hospital have been mapped out and are available for staff. Each route is a different length, with some planned to fit within a short lunch break. For information and printed copies of the maps contact Healthy Eating, Healthy Action (HEHA) coordinator Syd Horgan at shorgan@scdhb.health.nz
11. Staff Participation in Other Events
SCDHB staff are encouraged to take part in:
- the South Island Masters Games
- the South Island Charity Bike Ride
- the Cancer Society Relay for Life
- 5+ a Day activities.
Some of these activities are also supported by the DHB. For information contact Healthy Eating, Healthy Action (HEHA) coordinator Syd Horgan at shorgan@scdhb.health.nz
12. Free Flu Shots for Staff
Free flu shots are offered to staff each winter. For information contact the Infection Control Nurse, Mary Jones at icn@scdhb.health.nz
13. Nutrition Policy for Cafe/Vending Machines
Our nutrition policy requires most food on site to be healthy. The staff cafe provides staff with a good range of healthy and nutritious food, prepared fresh each day. For information contact Spotless Services manager Gwenda Norton at Gwenda.Norton@spotless.co.nz
14. Breastfeeding Room for Staff
The 2010/11 District Annual Plan includes the provision of a Breastfeeding Room at Timaru Hospital. More information about this will be available soon.
15. Health and Safety Training
SCDHB offers staff regular training on health and safety concerns, including fire safety and manual handling training. Accidents in the workplace are monitored and investigated. For information about our health and safety initiatives contact Health and Safety Manager Denis Richards at drichards@scdhb.health.nz or Coordinator Human Resourcese (Health and Safety) Annette Currey at acurrey@scdhb.health.nz
16. Staff Accomodation at Lake Tekapo
Thanks to donations over many years, South Canterbury DHB has been able to maintain holiday accomodation for staff at Lake Tekapo. Two units are available at minimal cost for staff needing a break. At busy times of the year like school holidays, a ballot is drawn to allocate the units. For information about staff accomodation at Lake Tekapo contact Helen Willcock at hwillcock@scdhb.health.nz
