Health Matters (Health & Safety) Ltd announced an exciting new contract with the Public Health Agency to provide and co-ordinate an effective Workplace Health and Wellbeing support service, to small, medium and large businesses located within the Southern Trust, South Eastern Trust and Belfast Trust regions.
The contract will see Newry-based firm Health Matters engage with local businesses across South Down providing them with free support, educational workshops and training programmes. The ultimate aim of the initiative is to seek on-going commitment to improve the health, safety and well-being of employees within the workplace setting.
Back Row l-r Dr Michael Mc Bride Chief Medical Officer, Nikki Sturgeon Health Matters Health, Safety & Wellbeing Coordinator, Catherine Downey Health Matters Health, Safety & Wellbeing Coordinator, Janet Calvert Public Health Agency.
Dr Eddie Rooney, Chief Executive of the PHA, said: “We spend a large portion of our day in work, so it is crucial that we take a whole-day approach to health and wellbeing and don’t treat it as something that only needs to be thought of outside of work hours.
“The roll out of this service means that businesses will be able to access support through the providers and will be able to engage with their workers to improve health and wellbeing through programmes such as help to stop smoking, weight loss programmes, mental health awareness training, health checks measuring blood pressure and risk of developing diabetes, cancer screening, alcohol awareness sessions, lunch time exercise programmes and cycle to work schemes.
“It is our aim to see the difference made to employees in the workplace having a wider reach, benefitting their families and communities.”
Businesses who engage with the service will be able to get help with carrying out staff surveys to assess needs of employees and training workplace health champions.
Dr Rooney added: “It is not all down to the employers, however, as there are many things that we can be doing individually to improve our health at work.
“Simple things like taking the stairs rather than using the lift, getting up and going to speak to someone rather than sending an email, or maybe travelling to a meeting a short distance away by walking or cycling rather than taking a car or taxi, can enable us to build better health into our day.
“If you do sit at a desk it can be all too easy to snack throughout the day. Choosing healthier options such as a piece of fruit rather than a chocolate bar, or water rather than a fizzy drink, can have a big improvement over time on our health.”
Mary Doran, Managing Director at Health Matters said: “We are thrilled to win this contract. Health Matters focus has always been on Health and to be in a position to be able to make such a positive influence through local workplaces is exciting.
“This is an excellent initiative by the Public Health Agency to encourage employers and employees to recognise not only the importance of preventing ill-health but also the key role the workplace can play in promoting general Health and Well-being. It will be our role to showcase how this can be done effectively without significantly costing the companies financially.
“Health Matters have been growing substantially over the last few years securing business from both the private and public sectors and this announcement confirms our status as one of the leading businesses in the field of Health, Safety and Wellbeing”
The project started in June 2016 and will run through to May 2019.
Registrations are limited so it is recommended that businesses wishing to ‘sign up’ should declare their interest as early as possible. This can be done online at:
