Hertfordshire Healthcare Workers Embrace Movement for Wellbeing

In a remarkable display of commitment to personal well-being, healthcare professionals across Hertfordshire have been embracing an active lifestyle through the 'ReMove the Blues' challenge. This month-long initiative encouraged staff to engage in 20 minutes of physical activity daily, fostering a culture of movement, motivation, and mental well-being. 

Launched on ‘Blue Monday’ (January 20th), the challenge was the first flagship event within the Active Connections Hub—a digital platform designed to support and inspire healthcare workers to stay active through various challenges and events. Over four weeks, participants tracked their activity, whether through smart devices or manual logs, converting their minutes into points to compete against colleagues within GP surgeries, Primary Care Networks, and countywide teams. 

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Outstanding Participation and Results 

The response was outstanding, with 215 Primary Care Network staff forming teams of up to four people. Their collective efforts led to some inspiring results: 

• 6 teams achieved the maximum points possible 

• 62 individuals reached the highest possible score 

• 7,553 miles actively travelled 

• 5,305 activities logged 

• 3,417 hours of activity completed 

• 142 consecutive days of movement recorded 

Participants received daily motivational nudges, shared activity photos to create a supportive community, and had the opportunity to win prizes such as sports equipment vouchers and well-being hampers. 

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A Positive Impact on Mental and Physical Well-being 

Beyond the numbers, the true success of the challenge was reflected in the personal experiences of participants. Primary Care colleagues shared the following feedback: 

"This challenge came at the right time for me. Having experienced two bereavements over the holiday season, my mood was very low. The challenge motivated me to move more, which significantly improved my mental well-being. I feel more like my old self! I enjoyed pushing myself further each day and have continued exercising even after the challenge ended." 

"I have continued with my 20 minutes of daily movement, and I feel so much better for it - my back pain has improved significantly since starting the ReMove the Blues challenge."

"Knowing I had to get 20 minutes of movement in, helped to make sure I took my lunch break which is not something I always do. I found getting out and moving halfway through the day made me feel more energised in the afternoon."

"I enjoyed the camaraderie the challenge brought to our team. We were regularly meeting up at lunch and going out for walks which had a positive impact on staff moral."

"The challenge gave me purpose and motivation to exercise, which is something I have always struggled with in the past."

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Celebrating the Winners 

While every participant was a winner in terms of health and motivation, several individuals and teams stood out: 

Individual Weekly Winners of a £50 Equipment Voucher: 

• Hatfield PCN (Wrafton Surgery) 

• Stevenage South PCN (Shephall Health Centre) 

• Ware & Rurals PCN (Dolphin House Surgery) 

• Stort Valley & Villages PCN (Church Street Partnership) 

Overall Champions: 

• Top Team, winning a £25 Equipment Voucher for each team member: Shephall Health Centre (South Stevenage PCN) 

• Winning Surgery, winning an Exercise Hamper for their surgery: North Herts Integrated Community Team (picture above)

With so many high achievers, tiebreakers were decided by random selection among top scorers. 

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Inspiring Active Healthcare for the Future 

By encouraging healthcare professionals to prioritise their own physical activity, it is intended that the 'ReMove the Blues' challenge is not only enhancing staff well-being but also empowering them to promote active lifestyles among their patients with confidence and firsthand experience. 

The Active Connections Hub remains open for Hertfordshire-based Primary Care Network staff, with more challenges and rewards on the horizon. Interested healthcare workers can join at www.totalactivehub.com/activeconnections. 

This initiative forms part of the broader Active Connections Programme, funded by Hertfordshire County Council Public Health, which aims to integrate physical activity into healthcare practices. For further information, contact hsphealth@herts.ac.uk. 

With continued dedication to movement and wellness, Hertfordshire’s healthcare professionals are proving that active health workers make for active, healthier patients!