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Royds Helps Rail Workers Get Their Health On Track

16 Mar 2010 -

Network Rail bosses in Wakefield are encouraging their employees to get their health back on track after one of their workers suffered a heart attack.

49-year old Eddie Parkin from Wakefield needed a triple bypass after having a heart attack whilst repairing rail tracks at Horbury Junction in April last year. His health scare and subsequent lifestyle change has prompted colleagues to start taking their own health more seriously. Now Network Rail has invited Health Means Business, a local NHS project managed by Royds and funded through Big Lottery, to kick start their workforce's drive to lead a healthier lifestyle with a health road-show.

Trackman Eddie hopes his experiences will act as a warning to colleagues not to take their health for granted, he said: "Before the heart attack I didn't exercise, I smoked 40 to 50 cigarettes a day and enjoyed all the wrong food. Now I don't smoke and I am very cautious about my diet. After more than five months off work I am now back but on restricted duties and can't do things I used to take for granted. The whole event was particularly stressful not just for me but for my family and my team mates. The controller of site safety that night was deeply affected by the incident after finding me keeled over heavily sweating. I hope my story and healthy living events like this one will make my work mates more aware of their health and what they can do to lead a healthier lifestyle - avoiding what I've been through."

During February, Royds took the Health Means Business roadshow to 120 invited rail staff at Kirkgate Station. Workers were able to try out everything from healthy cook and eat sessions to kick boxing and head massage with blood pressure checks on offer as well as advice on sensible drinking and help to quit smoking.

Lisa Burnett, Business Support Manager at Royds said: "The Health Means Business team are delighted to be invited by Network Rail to their staff health fair. We look forward to working with them over the coming months to improve the health and well-being of all their staff."

Cliff Moody is Maintenance Workforce Health, Safety and Environment Advisor at Network Rail, he said: "When I went to visit Eddie in hospital a few days after his heart attack and saw his devastated wife at his bedside I knew we had to do something. Promoting good health is something I am passionate about. If we can reach out to our staff through the health fair and with the help of Health Means Business that's got to be beneficial for our staff, their families and our organisation."