Today, RCSI (Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland) will launch its new programme that aims to promote the benefits of health and wellbeing to staff of the organisation. The initiative, entitled RCSI Inspire will be launched to coincide with National Workplace Wellbeing Day.

RCSI Inspire is based on four health pillars; Physical, Nutritional, Mental and Occupational health. This involves the amalgamation of existing exercise activities, with a number of new initiatives that will safeguard the overall health and wellbeing of RCSI staff in the workplace.

There are many benefits, both to the employee and the employer, of having a health and wellbeing programme in place in an organisation which includes improving employee morale, reduced absenteeism, reduced workplace stress, increased job satisfaction and productivity.

At the launch of RCSI Inspire staff can find out about the various activities this new programme will encompass and attend a seminar on achieving a healthy work-life balance which is being held in both our St Stephen's Green and Beaumont campuses.

Then at lunchtime, staff in the St Stephen's Green, Beaumont and Sandyford campuses will take part in the Lunchtime Mile walk where they will also get to sample some healthy snacks. Further lunchtime seminars will be held over the coming weeks on topics including road safety and cycling, eating for immunity and desk based yoga.

RCSI Inspire will introduce a number of new initiatives to staff including mindfulness training courses, cooking demonstrations, the launching of an RCSI healthy recipe book, a time management course (which will help reduce work related stress), the development of First Aid courses and the launch of RCSI's ‘Get Walking' campaign.

Speaking on RCSI Inspire, Barry Holmes, Director of Human Resources, RCSI, said, "There has been a lot of talk, recently, within the public and private sectors in relation to the importance of achieving and maintaining good health and wellbeing in the workplace so I am really excited about the RCSI Inspire programme. It reflects an ongoing focus we have had in this area. RCSI, as a premier health sciences institution, lead the way developing the healthcare leaders of the future and I am confident that through RCSI Inspire, we can continue to build on the work we have been doing in continually developing the wellbeing of all of our staff."