Barnsley's Fit Reds nets NHS award

Barnsley-based men's health project Fit Reds took its place on the podium alongside a new diagnostic test for bowel cancer and a remote wound management service at the Medipex 2011 NHS Innovation Awards, announced last month.

Now in their seventh year, the Awards recognise NHS staff members across the Yorkshire & Humber and East Midlands regions who have developed innovative ideas to improve patient care. The annual forms part of the work by Medipex, the NHS Innovation Hub for the Yorkshire & Humber region. Over 120 entries were recieved and twenty-five clinical teams were shortlisted across 5 categories. Fit Reds triumphed in the ‘GP and Primary Care’ category winning £2000.

Fit Reds brings together staff commissioned by NHS Barnsley including Community Development & Health Workers and Health Trainers from Barnsley Association of Community Partnerships & Priory Campus and Barnsley FC’s Community Sports & Education Trust’s Health Officer in a healthy lifestyle and weight management project.

Using the first-team facilities at Barnsley Football Club, the participants – all of whom are male Barnsley residents, aged over 35 who consider themselves to be overweight/inactive – receive a mix of healthy lifestyle advice and physical activity over an 8 week programme. To date, the 66 men who have completed the course have lost a combined total of 42 stone, 12 pounds in weight and 83% of them have lowered their blood pressure as a direct result of their participation.

Bobby Hassell, Barnsley FC’s current longest serving player and Fit Red’s Ambassador regularly attends to motivate and support the participants. Still in its first year, Fit Reds, has already achieved some outstanding results, will have run 6 eight-week programmes and now has a prestigious regional award.