Health Innovation Network sign up to join the #EquallyWellUK charter

In December 2018, Health Innovation Network became the first AHSN to commit to the #EquallyWellUK charter. With more than 100 organisations already signed up, including NHS England and Public Health England, the charter is one of three initiatives that seeks to promote and support collaborative action to improve physical health among people with a mental illness by signing individual organisational pledges.

Pictured above L-R: acting CEO, Zoe Lelliott; Head of Mental Health, Aileen Jackson; and Clinical Director for Mental Health, Dr Muj Husain.

For Health Innovation Network, signing this charter means that all our clinical themes have committed to ensuring that their work improves outcomes for all, including those with mental illness. A great example of a project that already does this is our work in improving the detection of Atrial Fibrillation in people with serious mental illness that you can read about here. We are also committed to introducing providers and commissioners to promising digital solutions, and evaluating their impact.

Read more about our Mental Health theme here and about the pledge here.

Health Innovation Network awarded ‘excellence’ level of London Healthy Workplace Charter

Following the success of the Health Innovation Network’s (HIN) ‘Commitment’ and ‘Achievement’ award, we are pleased to announce that the HIN has been awarded top level of ‘Excellence’ in the London Healthy Workplace Charter following an assessment which took place on 31 October. The Charter gives recognition to organisations that have put in place a range of systems to support employees, and create opportunities to cultivate happier and healthier workplace.

With approximately 1 in 4 people in the UK experiencing a mental health problem each year¹ and 8.9 million working days lost due to work-related musculoskeletal disorders in 2016/17², organisations have become more proactive in ensuring staff wellbeing is at the forefront in all that they do. The HIN has been leading the way with various initiatives that have been specifically put in place to support its workforce, such as:

Free yoga and mindfulness classes
Standing up desks
Mental health awareness training
Access to showers to encourage physical exercise, such as cycling to work
Book and running clubs
Opportunities to trial and feedback on wellbeing apps, such as, Headspace, My Possible Self and LiveSmart.

For more information on the charter, please contact Eric Barratt on ericbarratt@nhs.net

Sources