STEPS TO HEALTH CHALLENGE
O
ur annual Steps to Health challenge remained undefeatable in the face of further obstacles posed this year by the cyberattack on our IT systems. Hats off to all those who took part despite the many hurdles. 1,200 courageous team co-ordinators signed up with 8,800 employees. The Pandemic Pros from the Self Isolation Facility at the CityWest Hotel pounded the pavements solidly for the five weeks of the challenge and their team of 45 notched nearly 21 million steps between them! “We calculated that we have walked all the way to Melbourne. The enthusiasm and effort from everyone were phenomenal. We officially had a team of 10 for the challenge but we were joined by lots of the hotel staff here who were eager to take part,” explained team leader Helen Stokes, General Manager of the Self Isolation Facility. “We have a huge campus here so there’s always plenty of walking to be done. It was as simple as making small changes like taking the stairs instead of the lift or walking to work instead of taking the bus. We also arranged lunchtime walks down to Saggart and around the local area to keep the team going and getting those steps in.” Team member Eoin Hill put in an amazing 933,000 steps by himself. “We had loads of people who never really walked before and they had amazing results. To keep everyone motivated, we had a weekly update and we made a gallery wall of photos taken by people on their walks. We’ve also given out prizes for the top steppers and that kept the effort going,” said Helen. She said they had great support from hotel management and staff at the CityWest. “Everyone really got behind the efforts. The chefs at the hotel even put on a healthy food option each day. They said there was nearly no point in doing any other food because everyone was going for the healthy option,” said Helen. The facility remains busy with
.... continues to assist our wellbeing
You can view the participation numbers from around the country in the table below. Community Health Organisations Teams CHO 1 85 CHO 2 35 CHO 3 50 CHO 4 62 CHO 5 53 CHO 6 29 CHO 7 90 CHO 8 71 CHO 9 87 Hospital Groups Teams Children’s 6 Dublin Mid Leinster 68 Ireland East 69 RCSI 30 Saolta 77 South SW 50 Limerick University 53 National and Other Teams National HSE 83 TULSA 18 Other 126
Participants 677 272 380 501 419 236 732 566 686 Participants 51 519 516 242 590 393 429 Participants 595 126 859
The Pandemic Pros from the Self Isolation Facility at CityWest.
healthcare workers who are unable to isolate at home, returning travellers who are COVID positive and can’t stay in an ordinary hospital, as well as COVID patients stepping down from care in acute hospitals. “Our residents have their own recreational areas so we have been encouraging them to go for walks and stay active while they are isolating. There are lots of children here so we have been providing football goals and other equipment to get them out and keep moving,” said Helen. The Steps to Health project team, which comprises Clodagh Armitage, Health Promotion and Improvement; Norma Deasy Programmes and Campaigns; Noreen Turley, Health and Wellbeing; Aine O’Connell, Digital; Jennifer Carrie, Internal Communications; and Aine Lyng National Cancer Control Programme; wishes to thank everyone who took up the challenge to make a difference to their physical and mental wellbeing. Equally we would like to send gratitude to all the team coordinators for inspiring and motivating their members. We are already in planning for our sixth initiative - next spring. HEALTH MATTERS WINTER 2021 | 9
