A hospital trust has scooped an award for making its workplace as healthy as possible.

The hard work that has gone into ensuring a healthier workplace across Queen’s Hospital in Romford and King George Hospital in Goodmayes has been recognised with a Healthy Workplace Charter.

Representatives from the Health and Wellbeing team at the Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Trust (BHRUT) picked up the achievement award in a ceremony at City Hall last week.

Initiatives helping staff to become healthier include encouraging them to eat well and exercise, and encouraging staff to join various exercise or wellbeing classes on site.

Making both hospital sites smoke free in April this year has also seen the trust look to reduce the amount of staff who smoke.

Awards were presented by Professor Dame Carol Black, an expert advisor on health and work to both Public Health England and the Department of Health, and Deputy Mayor of London Roger Evans.

There are three categories of the Healthy Workplace Charter, awarded by the GLA (Greater London Authority), commitment, achievement, which the trust received, and excellence.

Head of employee wellbeing, Sue Kennard, said: “I am delighted that we’ve been recognised with this award.

“With a staff of 6,500 people, working across two hospitals and serving people from three boroughs, this shows what an impact we can make on the health and wellbeing of our community.

“The fact that staff have been so enthusiastic to get involved has been wonderful.

“Not only is this great for morale, but ensuring a healthy workforce also helps to tackle sickness absence and reduce rates of staff turnover.”