Nhs staff to lose weight - your thoughts?

I thought this may make an interesting topic - that nhs staff will be given rewards for losing weight as they are setting a bad example.

As an nhs worker and overweight I don't know what to feel really or how I feel. The quality of my work sets the president not how I look. I wondered if others felt this is how it should be?

What about those people who have reasons (medical etc) for their weight? Will it come to wearing a wrist band with "the reason why I'm overweight is...." It seems bonkers to me!

Also I have never had any comments about my weight reflecting on my job. My role doesn't involve giving out healthy living advice, so that may be why.

Is it a bit like saying - everyone who works in plastic surgery should have plastic surgery themselves otherwise it's hypocritical for them to give people procedures?


Any way look forward to your thoughts,

T x

Not 100% sure we have the right to judge anyone when we don't have the facts.

I was asked by two separate nurses why I had gone to the extreme of having a bypass while I was on the ward. Both nurses were bigger than I was then but neither appeared to be less capable of doing their job.

They didn't know my main reason was a prolapsed spine and less weight = less pain. We just don't know anyone's history by looking at them. Incidentally, one of the nurses played women's rugby, cycled the 6 miles to work and home every day and went on walking trips at the weekend. She may have been bigger than me but by no means unfit!

I'm a bit on the fence on this one. When I had my surgery my BMI was 32.5. I had several comments on the ward from nurses saying they were surprised why I had the sleeve given the relatively low BMI, but then they never asked my history. (My BMi has ranged from 23 to 43 over the last 15 years)

I also had a couple of nurses give me diet, nutritional and physical advice. One of these I would say was around the 16st mark but looked fit and healthy, the other I would say was morbidly obese and had difficulty bending, lifting and moving amongst the furniture in the small room. The ward I was on wasn't a specific bariatric ward, but I do feel that people in frontline medical jobs should be able to physically perform tasks and be able to help patients with normal tasks.

But, having a weight problem myself, I can't and won't judge people based on their size. But when the people in question are giving advice, I guess I feel a little uneasy.

On the flip side, when my 8st, size 6 GP tried to tell me to eat less and move more - I could have throttled her. Lol

I think they should if it does effect their jobs. I as on a plastics ward and a nurse struggled to help a patient due to size..

Difficult one...all i can say is these nurses work their socks off, get abused, injured and often get little respect.
If you sat in an A and E for an hour you would see what its like, and long shifts often without a break will lead to excessive and inappropriate eating.. Shift working is very difficult and having a job where you dont get to eat for ten hours is a killer, when you finish work you are starving so grab something on the way home.
At the end of the day they are human and their weight should only be an issue if it actually effects their work or puts others at risk.
Also ask some of those nurses about some of the things they have seen over the years, horrific injuries, death, grieving families, it takes its toll on these people...
So for me im not bothered if they are size 6 or size 32, as long as they are on hand when i need them..
I would like to add im not a nurse of nhs employee so im not biased but i do have an insight in to their occupation, anyway thats my view...

soz. repled to other so thought id re post on here. im a staff nurse in nhs. I find I feel hypocritical giving health advice one weight being the size I am. I do think maybe having a hospital slimming world would be great to fit around our funny working hrs. and we tend to eat at odd times which doeant help. I find I almost stuff myself as quickly as pos as it may be a v long time before I get to eat again, which doesnt help x

For me i would have to make light of it but thats how i am, for example give them the advice and then say if they follow it they too could look like you...i know where you are coming from though, when you are in a role like that you feel there is an expectation. For me i would rather know you are competent and qualified.
A fireman could give fire safety advice, doesnt mean their house wont catch fire.. A police officer might give crime prevention advice, doesnt mean they wont be a victim of crime...the list goes on.
I wonder what the rewards might be...maybe a decent pension!!!

haha kar! yep I agree. I may get worn out quicker but my weight does not effect how well I care for my patients.I remember working with another nurse once and she was much bigger than me. u cud she she was worn out and swetting (maybe deligating a little too much) but I tell u what she wss the most knowledgable nurse on that ward and knew her job!
anyway im hoping in a few months (band in 2 weeks) ill be a fit and healthy nurse! hehe x

Oh good luck with your band!!

Sorry for the re posting there was an issue with my app. I'm an OT and my weight does sometimes get in the way - bending for long periods and negotiating in tight spaces, but I am knowledgable and hope that I ensure all my patients are cared for in the best manner.

I just found the publics opinions were awful! Well people's expectations from the nhs staff. One person said they expect all nhs staff to be fit and take thorough interest in being fit.

I was really shocked and appalled by some of the publics responses.

omg thats awful. were there to care not to be judged. its maddening x

I'd be happier if they were doing it out of concern for the health. More injury backs etc happen from overweight so in a way it's nice they wanna encourage

I work in the nhs ( although not on the wards) personally I care more about whether a health professional treats me with with dignity, care and compassion rather than their size. Is the government also going to incentivise nhs staff to not drink, smoke etc?

Bottom line as far as I'm concerned is that until NHS staff are paid decent salaries, and properly rewarded for the work they do, no one has the right to criticise them. Long hours, low pay and treated like c##p is enough to discourage anyone.

Btw, I'm new here and don't work in NHS x

As a student midwife working full time in Nhs wards I can honestly say I can do my job much easier 6 stone lighter. Last year I would have struggled in delivery suite as I am often in my knees or in strange positions!! Also when we give women advice about healthy eating it always feels a bit hypocritical as a big person. I think NHS staff should be offered help and encouragement to lose weight but not be made to feel inadequate or that it is a necessity for their job. Xx

I agree, if you start doing it for weight management and you telling everyone who smokes to stop. I see people standing outside the cancer suites smoking - staff that is. However if we enforced a smoking ban it would be against public rights. So...... Where's the difference?

It should be for everything, incentives to stop smoking, incentives for alcoholics.

The money spent on reward programmes should be put into saving services and saving jobs! It's a nightmare out there!!!

X

This was one of the main drivers for my wls. As a member of a stroke rehab team, I felt a massive fraud giving my patients health advice being huge myself.

Plus my weight was stopping me doing my job effectively and giving the best treatment to my patients, from a physiotherapy perspective. My lightbulb moment was when a patient who'd had a stroke asked me if I could manage the stairs.

I think if you work in the NHS, we have a duty of care and a moral obligation to our patients to practice what we preach and not be a hypocrite.

Fdpm 22 said:

Bottom line as far as I'm concerned is that until NHS staff are paid decent salaries, and properly rewarded for the work they do, no one has the right to criticise them. Long hours, low pay and treated like c##p is enough to discourage anyone.

Btw, I'm new here and don't work in NHS x

Click to expand...

Totally agree...and i bet Cameron still sends that £1.7 billion to europe because he is gutless...this how that could be used better!! I pay 40% tax and get no benefit at all from this country!