Staff at UL Hospitals Group lose 1,322 lbs in Operation Transformation
Over 300 staff across the UL Hospitals Group have shed the equivalent of two grand pianos in weight after taking part in the Operation Transformation Workplace Challenge.
The popular RTE health and fitness show encourages members of the public to follow its leaders in getting fit and eating healthy. And this year, some 314 staff across the six hospitals in the UL Hospitals Group took up that challenge over eight weeks.
Staff had their initial weight and waist measurements recorded; selected the Operation Transformation leader whose food and fitness plan they would follow; and then attended their weekly weigh-in. Staff events were organised to promote increased physical activity, including pilates, circuit training, led lunchtime walks and park runs. The total weight loss amounted to 94 stone 6 lbs with 133 inches lost off staff waistlines. This equates to the weight of two Steinway Grand Pianos or to more than the weight of a good size mature thoroughbred horse (average 1,000lbs).
Group lead for the Operation Transformation Programme, Jean Quinn McDonogh, Director of Physiotherapy, University Hospital Limerick, was delighted with the success of the programme, which was provided by a range of staff volunteers across the group.
“The feedback from staff who took part was so positive. When we surveyed the entire workforce last year to get a snapshot of their physical activity levels , almost all of the 1,006 who responded indicated that they would like specific programmes to be made available during lunch breaks and after work to motivate them to become more active,” said Ms Quinn McDonogh.
Hugh Brady, Chief Financial Officer and Executive Group Lead for Health and Wellbeing added that the Group would “build on this success by participating in the National Million Pound Weight Loss Challenge to the end of the year and will actively promote the HSE’s Healthy Ireland agenda for staff, patients and communities”.
Colette Cowan, CEO of the UL Hospitals Group, said: “I was delighted, like so many others working at UL Hospitals Group, to take part in Operation Transformation this year. Through the Healthy Ireland programme, we have developed a national framework for health and wellbeing for the next generation. Those of us who work in the health sector have a special responsibility to recognise and live those values. But there’s a huge fun side to all of this too and events like the recent workplace challenge at UL Hospitals are living proof that, working with our colleagues, family or friends, a burden shared can be a burden halved.”