Shropshire Council launches innovative onsite health screening for businesses and their staff
Local businesses can now invest in affordable, convenient onsite health checks for their staff with minimum disruption to their workplace; improving staff health and well-being.
Shropshire Council is now offering workplace staff health screening through its new Preventive Health service. The offering is part of an ambitious mission to create a culture of health and well-being for business owners and their staffs, with prevention central to tackling health concerns in the county.
Preventive Health launch
Dr Kevin Lewis, of Shropshire Council’s Preventive Health, said:-
“Fifteen million people in England live with at least one long term condition, and much of this is preventable. That’s astonishing. There are significant health issues in the county that need addressing and employers can be part of the solution. That is why we have designed Preventive Health to be an affordable, non-disruptive workplace health screening service, using highly-qualified health advisers and technology which encourages employers to hold workplace health screening events.”
Staff health and well-being has become one of the key challenges to modern organisations, particularly because of rising benefit costs and lack of staff engagement in benefit programmes.
With its comprehensive remodelling of workplace heath checks, Preventive Health will offer unprecedented convenience. The service has set a pricing policy which will make it the most competitive staff health check provider on the regional market. A charge of £50 per staff member, per health check, has been set.
Shropshire’s business owners, HR directors and office managers will be able to obtain a quote for company-wide health checks in seconds, just by visiting the Preventive Health website. For smaller companies without the necessary space for staff screening appointments, Preventive Health offers the option of a mobile clinic; a vehicle staffed by qualified health advisers and medical equipment. Marketing support – including email templates, posters and a co-branded staff portal – are provided to help organisations raise awareness of upcoming health checks. A self-booking system allows staff to choose and schedule their own appointments online.
Dean Carroll, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for adult social care, public health and climate change, said:-
“We know that staff are our most important asset, so it makes sense for managers to do all they can to detect illness and promote health and well-being. I am really excited about the new Preventive Health service and how it will play a vital role in supporting workforces in Shropshire to remain well. It is estimated that the combined cost of sickness absence and health-related lost productivity across the UK is estimated at over £100bn annually. Not only will the new service help keep staff healthy and productive, but it arguably makes sound financial sense for businesses as well.”
Rachel Robinson, Shropshire Council’s director of public health, added:-
“One of our key priorities is to improve the health and well-being of people living and working in Shropshire. We spend a large proportion of our time in work, so our jobs and our workplaces can have a big impact on our health and well-being. We all have a responsibility to invest in staff health and well-being, and Shropshire’s new Preventive Health service will help businesses achieve better outcomes from a workforce, and for people and communities.”
The council has determined an ethos of transparency and simplicity for the new service. Preventive Health will be contract-free and admin-free, with no recurrent fees or hidden costs.
A Preventive Health staff health screening appointment takes no more than 20 minutes, and includes blood glucose and cholesterol checks; height, weight and waist measurement; Body Mass Index (BMI) calculation; Heart Age, and a diabetes risk test. Staff get their results instantly and reports are totally confidential. Importantly, staff are able to discuss their results there and then.
Arriva, the public transport provider, helped test the service.
Jamie Crowsley from Arriva said;-
“The positivity and general buzz generated by the Preventive Health team’s work has been infectious. The impact has been very real. A member of our team found out that they were type 2 diabetic. Without the Preventive Health check this staff member would not be receiving the assistance required to manage and improve her well-being.”
To find further information about Preventive Health workplace health checks, visit www.preventivehealth.org.uk
Further information
- Preventive Health is a staff health screening service operated by Shropshire Council.
- Preventive Health is an integrated solution which simplifies the staff health check process for both public and commercial organisations.
- Preventive Health has worked with public and commercial organisations including Arriva, West Mercia Police, Warwickshire Police, West Midlands Ambulance Service, and Shropshire Towns and Rural Housing.
- Shropshire Council ensures that the Preventive Health service is completely confidential and compliant with all relevant legislation.
- Preventive Health, Longbow House, Longbow Close, Shrewsbury SY13GZ
- Tel: 01743 454910
- Website: www.preventivehealth.org.uk
