‘We help our members grow through a variety of networking opportunities.’

Aiming to put health first

Local company HBE is committed to the wellbeing of their workforce and this was evidenced recently when they hosted a health and wellbeing initiative in their Newry premises which was delivered by the staff of Health Matters Ltd.

Following a healthy lifestyle talk by Roisin Armstrong, a dietary health expert and local Occupational Health Nurse Mary Dora, the event offered HBE staff, through a confidential one-to-one consultation with Health Promotion Nurse Claire McGuirk, the opportunity to discuss aspects of their health and to have their blood pressure monitored and blood checked for cholesterol and glucose levels.

Commenting on the uptake of the event, Mary Doran stated how there was much more emphasis now that  ever on employee wellbeing: “As a company Health Matters in response to the vision and aims of the new Public Health framework – Making Life Better (DHSSPS 2014) have now delivered similar initiatives to many businesses. The principle message of the framework is that effective workplace health promotion can make a real difference to the health and wellbeing of employees, businesses and the communities in which people live and work and results in employers and employees recognising not only the importance fo preventing ill health, also the key role the workplace can play in promoting health and wellbeing.”

The event which was attended by 15 staff, covered the following topics – diet for healthy living, alcohol and drugs, stress awareness common cancers and self examination techniques and ended with a session on yoga delivered by a local Yoga Master Eddie Kelly and an Indian Head Massage by complimentary therapist Sam.

HR Manager Christine Swail commented: “We are delighted with the uptake within the HBE team. As a health and safety consultancy, we all understand the benefits of having a healthy and highly motivated team. This pilot event has certainly created a buzz around the company. It has helped re-energise all those New Year resolutions which usually fall away by this stage in the year. We have also started a running and walking club in the company which has grown from strength to strength as more see the benefits of exercise. Overall this health and wellbeing promotion has been very popular and will hopefully be repeated as we see the results from this pilot.”

January 26th 2016

Newry Democrat