NI physical activity scheme to promote staff wellbeing

Northern Ireland Health Minister Jim Wells was in Lisburn to launch a novel ‘physical activity loyalty’ card scheme (PAL) to create opportunities to support behaviour change and improve physical well-being.

Developed by Queen’s University and run in collaboration with Lisburn City Council, South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust and the local Chamber of Commerce, the scheme works in a similar way to well-known high-street loyalty cards.

The concept has been applied to a public health setting where employees of participating organisations earn points for minutes of physical activity taken, which are then exchanged for retail vouchers sponsored by and redeemable at local businesses.

The Minister said: “This is a very interesting and innovative scheme which has the potential for many benefits on a number of levels.

“Like many other countries in the developed world, Northern Ireland has high levels of inactivity which has resulted in an increase in preventable chronic illness. Employees who participate in the scheme will get much more than the value of the incentives being offered. Through regular physical activity they will reap the benefits from reduced risks of many chronic conditions including heart disease, stroke, diabetes and certain cancers.

“Improving the health of the workforce will not only benefit their own health but, evidence suggests, is also likely to improve workplace performance and productivity, so employers and ultimately the economy as a whole stand to benefit from a healthy workforce.

“With this scheme there is also the added potential for local businesses to benefit from increased footfall.”

The trial is being funded by National Institute of Health Research and the Public Health Agency to evaluate how the use of incentives might prompt particularly sedentary office-based staff to become more physically active, and examine the effects on productivity and absenteeism.

At least eight major employers in Lisburn have signed up to “go live” with the PAL scheme in spring 2015, including the Lisburn City Council and the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust.

Many aspects of the scheme resonate with the agenda for collaborative action outlined in the Executive’s strategic framework for public health, Making Life Better.

The Minister continued saying; “Making Life Better commits to creating the conditions for individuals, families and communities to take greater control over their lives, and be enabled and supported to lead healthy lives.

“To create the conditions for improved health and a reduction in inequalities in health will require strengthened co-ordination and partnership working with government, agencies, other sectors and communities working proactively in a coherent way.

“Partnership working is vital to the success of many initiatives – and that includes the PAL scheme, which brings together a local community of interest; employees and their families; employer organisations; local business; and the academic sector around the issue of improving health and wellbeing.

“The effectiveness of this scheme will be of course of much broader interest to those of us in the Health Sector and wider government who have a responsibility for public health, and subject to success has the potential for roll-out in schools, community and other settings.”