Wednesday, 15 August 2012
Health board staff are taking part in the new Champions for Health campaign, which is launched today (15 August 2012
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As the 2012 summer of sport draws to a close, staff from across Wales are being invited to take up the baton and sign up for a six month challenge to improve their health.
The campaign is encouraging NHS Wales’ staff to become healthier and more effective role models of public health messages: ‘a healthier you means a healthier Wales’.
Sarah Wynne-Jones, Head of Occupational Health and Wellbeing, has already signed up to take part and will be urging colleagues to do the same.
She said: “Part of it is about being a role model in the long run and I want to be able to talk about what worked for me in Champions for Health.”
One of the areas Sarah is focusing on is drinking safely. “I don’t drink much, but when I do it’s very easy to exceed the recommended safe daily limits on units of alcohol,” she explained.
“Success for me will be maintaining a reduction in alcohol and drinking only occasionally, and that I will lose another stone in weight.”
1000 champions – 6 months – 5 healthy living choices – 1 big challenge!
The campaign aims to recruit 1,000 staff from across NHS Wales and individuals will be invited to choose two healthy lifestyle changes that they are prepared to improve. They will be able to monitor their own progress throughout the campaign.
The campaign has the support of Wales Double Olympic Rowing Champion Tom James, who won Gold in the men’s coxless four in London only a week ago.
He said: “Champions for Health is an exciting initiative and I am delighted to be involved. We have seen how the Olympics has captured people’s imagination, so let’s maintain this momentum to inspire those who can make a difference.”
Will you be a champion for health?
You can sign up to take part in Champions for Health by visiting:
http://nww.championsforhealth.wales.nhs.uk (intranet)
or www.championsforhealth.wales.nhs.uk (internet)
If you have any queries or require further information, you can email championsforhealth@wales.nhs.uk
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Notes to Editors
- The Champions for Health campaign is being led by the Directors of Public Health in Wales and is supported by Public Health Wales and the 1000 Lives Plus national programme.
- The Champions for Health logo and character are available as images to accompany the news item.
- Champions for Health will also be on Twitter @C4H_Wales from Monday 13 August 2012.
- Should you have any queries, please don’t hesitate to contact Andrew Cooper, Communications Manager, on (029) 2082 7654 or email Andrew.Cooper@wales.nhs.uk