Monday 29 February 2016. More than 80 co-owners took the opportunity to have their pulses and blood pressures checked during February in support of the national 'Healthy Hearts' awareness month. Every co-owner also received a free pedometer during February's campaign, which was run as part of CSH Surrey's 2016 Health & Wellbeing programme.
The health checks were provided by four of CSH Surrey's nurses. Of the 85 co-owners they checked, 13% were recommended to have further investigations to rule out potential health issues identified through the checks. One co-owner commented: "I'm so pleased I got my blood pressure and pulse checked. I was shocked to discover my blood pressure is higher than it should be, but it's good that I know. As a result I've signed up to the weekly exercise classes that are provided for co-owners so I hope that next time I'm checked it will have come down!"
Co-owners were encouraged to use the free pedometers to compare the number of daily steps they take with the nationally recommended 10,000 steps a day target, and to use this new insight to increase their activity levels. The pedometers were well received and feedback included: "I had no idea we're supposed to walk 10,000 steps or five miles a day for good health, it's definitely made me more aware of my daily activity levels. I've started trying to walk more, including doing a short walk in my lunch break and walking the children to school more, which is better for them too."
Director of HR Rhona Mason, whose team is leading the Health & Wellbeing programme, says: "Our physical and emotional health and wellbeing directly affect the quality of our lives as well as those around us, including our patients, colleagues and our own families. By supporting our co-owners to look after their own health and wellbeing, they will be better able to better care for the patients and families we serve."