lovemiddlesbrough-magazine-spring-2015 (2)

All aboard for gettingmore active at James CookExtra Life is an inventive,inclusive wellbeing initiativethat aims to deliver researchbased improvements inhealth and wellbeing acrosslocal settings.How has the trustimplemented Extra Life?The trust has supported a number ofhealth prevention activities over theyears but after signing up for Extra Lifea co-ordinator was appointed to bringtogether all current activities, as wellas develop new health and wellbeinginitiatives.They have worked in partnership withTeesside University to set up focusgroups with staff to talk to them abouttheir top health concerns. This hashelped to identify four key areas thatthe trust will work on in the comingmonths - lifestyle, mental health,wellbeing and resilience, and smokingreduction.The trust’s first major Extra Life initiativewas the recent ‘Stress Down’ weekrun in partnership with other Extra Lifesupporters Teesside University andMiddlesbrough College.Extra Life is currently working inpartnership with Teesside University,Middlesbrough College and SouthTees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust;however the long term aim is toinvolve lots of other local employersand community settings.Why has the Universitysigned up to Extra Life?The University has been activelyworking to promote a healthieruniversity, both in terms of studentsand staff, for a number of years.We feel signing up to Extra Life willstrengthen and add to the progressthat has already been made. Inparticular we can see the benefit ofthe Extra Life branding as we believeit will become a recognisable andtrusted brand across Middlesbrough.We hope to create increasedawareness of the Extra Life brand onthe back of activities and initiatives,such as the recent ‘Stress Down Week’.Extra Life begins by working togetherwith each setting to identify theirunique wellbeing needs and existingassets. It then offers support, adviceand motivation throughout the setting,using a variety of tools, to build arobust environment that supports andimproves the health of those who visit.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .For more information please go tofacebook.com/extralifeteesInventiveinclusivewellbeingWhat will you achievewith Extra Life in 2015?We recently combined our annual“Every Student Matters” week with “StressDown” in February to maximise impactand we are planning further innovativecampaigns throughout the year. We alsoplan to recruit Health Champions whowill support in delivering Extra Life activity.We intend to use the Healthy Settingsframework and Extra Life brand identityto enable and encourage staff andstudents to improve health. We expectExtra Life combined with our HealthySettings Framework to provide us with amuch more coordinated approach tomany areas of need including;• Sexual Health • Substance Misuse• Smoking Cessation• Healthy Eating/Heart Disease• Opportunities for Physical Activity• Mental Health/Emotional/ Resilience• General Health issues• Safeguarding students, staff and visitorsSouth Tees Hospitals NHS FoundationTrust signed up to “Extra Life” HealthPromoting Hospitals in June 2013.One of the five standards to beachieved is to ‘create supportiveand sustainable environments thatcontribute positively to improvinghealth and wellbeing.’Any changes to the environment thatlead to an increase in physical activityand a reduction in our carbon footprintwould help to achieve this standard.A number of exciting developmentsare helping patients, visitors, staff andcontractors to do just that.Here are a few different ways oftravelling to and from The JamesCook University Hospital for both staffand visitors:-Rail stationThe long awaited James Cookrail station, located at the back ofThe James Cook University Hospitalopened to the public in May 2014.Up to 17 trains a day in each directioncall at the hospital and other stationson the line between Middlesbroughand Nunthorpe.The new facility, which cost around£2.2million, has a single platform onthe Middlesbrough to Whitby route (onthe hospital side of the railway line)and provides a fully-lit waiting shelterand seating, full CCTV coverage andpassenger information including anelectronic screen and public addressannouncements. Rail users also getthe opportunity to take a short5-10 min walk to andfrom the hospital.For more informationon times and pricesvisit thetrainline.comTravel by busThere are also a variety of bus routesthat stop just outside James CookUniversity Hospital, these are 10, 10A, 11A,18, 19, 28, 28B 29, 29A, 63, 455, 456, X80.For more information on timesand routes visitconnectteesvalley.com/bustimetables.aspActive TravelThose who would like to improvetheir fitness and reduce theircarbon footprint even more can trywalking or cycling to the hospital.Building more walking and cyclinginto your everyday routine willcontribute towards achieving yourrecommended 30 minutes ofmoderate intensity exercise on five ormore days of the week.MiddlesbroughSports VillageWith a cycle circuit, skate plaza,athletics stadium, indoor athletictrack, 75 station active gym, indoorchildren’s play area, multi-functionalsports hall, café, football pitches,and therapy rooms, this state ofthe art facility will provide the idealopportunity to be active fitting aroundyour lifestyle.A lit path between the hospital andsports village will allow people to walkto the sports village and fit in someactivities before your workout evenbegins!New staff car park atPrissick Base for thoseworking at the hospitalThe new 1,100-space Prissick Base carpark, opening in the next few months,will be accessed from Ladgate Lane(B1380) opposite Stewart Park and hasbeen designed to a formal ‘Park Mark’accreditation standard.This means that measures havebeen put in place to create a safeenvironment for car park users,including appropriate lighting andeffective CCTV, fully endorsed by thelocal police.Hospital staff who park there willbenefit not only from a guaranteedspace and more effective entry andexit away from the extremely busyMarton Road, but also have theopportunity of a 5-10 minute walk toand from their work each day.16 lovemiddlesbrough magazinelovemiddlesbrough magazine17