Employer Scope

As major employers – with over 84,000 staff across our NHS Boards and Local Authorities in the East of Scotland – we are working to improve the diet and healthy weight support available to this workforce.

This includes plans to review the existing diet and healthy weight initiatives for staff, raise awareness of type 2 diabetes, improve the food environment, enable good conversations, signpost weight management services and provide training for managers.

Projects

Review of diet and healthy weight initiatives

We have reviewed the current diet and healthy weight initiatives available to staff, producing a report which includes:

  • An overview of the staff health and wellbeing initiatives which are currently available across our NHS Boards and Local Authorities, specifically those related to physical activity and nutrition
  • Best practice case studies and key challenges
  • Recommended actions for improvement

These recommendations can be viewed here.

Improving the food environment

To improve the food environment across these organisations, we are initially working with catering staff and Foods Standards Scotland to develop a one day training programme for catering teams. This will:

  • Evidence the impact which the food environment can have on population health
  • Outline ways in which catering staff can have a positive impact on the food environment, including support to understand nutrition and implement menu planning
  • Explain the importance of food labelling and how to use MenuCal in catering settings
  • Provide the opportunity to share learning and benefit from peer support

Training and awareness

We are exploring ways in which we can develop training for health and social care staff and senior managers, along with raising awareness of type 2 diabetes. Topics where training and awareness may be required include:

  • Type 2 diabetes education and signposting to local services
  • Weight bias and obesity stigma
  • Health literacy
  • Good conversations with patients around type 2 diabetes, including the House of Care Model
  • Enabling healthy choices

In the lead up to World Diabetes Day on 14 November 2020, we held a virtual Type 2 Diabetes Awareness Week for all council, health and social care staff across the East of Scotland.

If you work for one of our NHS Boards or Local Authorities and would like to hold a tailored session with staff to raise awareness of any of these issues, please get in touch.

Resources

Get in Touch

To find out more about our work or get involved, please contact:

Lucy Shardalow, Communications Manager
Email: Lucy.Shardalow@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk
Phone: 07877 608850