NHS Pays Private Firm For Health Advice
June 20th 2008
The government has launched several pilots of a new scheme to support the health and wellbeing of NHS staff. 
Healthy staff are less likely to take time off, are more fulfilled at work and more productive, ministers believe. Participants will be supported with strategies to improve nutrition and physical activity, and to reduce stress.
"It also to enables staff to lead by example on the benefits of a healthy lifestyle," say the department of health.
The two-year pilots are taking place at ten sites around England, beginning with Rotherham Primary Care Trust.
Speaking at the launch, Ann Keen, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health, explained that a further nine sites in PCTs, hospitals, mental health and community services will be launched by July 8.
She said: "It is right that we focus our attention on the health and wellbeing of our own staff, and that this becomes a proactive, preventative approach. Not only is this good for staff; it is good for the NHS. Healthier staff will help us deliver better services to our patients and positively influence their friends, families and colleagues."
The services offered to NHS staff are being provided under a 277,000 UK pounds contract with the consultancy firm vielife - who provide similar services to the private sector and local government.
However, the deal has been criticised by NHS pressure group Health Emergency, who say it is "an admission of failure that the private sector has to give PCT’s health eating and lifestyle advice when the NHS is supposed to be giving the public the same advice every day of the week.
"The deal seems like money for old rope."
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