AHP Suffolk picks up health and wellbeing award

^{Enjoying their win (left to right) physio Daniel Thomas, administrator Katie Vass, physio Sophie Dale, physio Chris Cook, physio Matt Peck, rehab instructor Will Edwards, physio Frankie Wythe, rehab instructor Zoe Moore, physio Joe Russell and physio Grace Lander}

Matt Peck, clinical lead physiotherapist and operational manager in Ipswich and Hadleigh for Allied Health Professionals Suffolk, joined members of his team for the award ceremony on 15 March at Milsoms Hotel, Kesgrave.

The Suffolk Coastal Business and Community Awards’ health and wellbeing prize recognises an organisation’s support for employee or customer health and wellbeing, and understanding of health issues in their local community.

‘We were proud to accept this award on behalf of everyone at AHP Suffolk,’ said Mr Peck. ‘It was a team achievement and lovely for our work to be recognised in our local community.

‘As a community interest company, we are bound to reinvest any surplus resources into the local community. We are always looking for opportunities to improve the health and wellbeing of our patients and the wider population.

‘One way of doing this is to run community gyms, which are open Monday to Friday. They provide an environment in which people can exercise in a safe, encouraging environment.

‘Another activity we run for free is a walking programme, which is open to everyone. Each Wednesday lunchtime a walking party leaves our Riverside Clinic in Ipswich on a 30-40 minute walk. It may include the local waterfront or parks. And it’s an opportunity to exercise and ask a physio for informal advice.’

Many of Allied Health Professionals Suffolk’s 80 full-time equivalent physiotherapists and 12 full-time equivalent rehabilitation instructors are engaged in other community activities too.

For instance, they have promoted physiotherapy at University of East Anglia careers fairs. They have been at the Suffolk Skills Show, to engage young people in health-related career paths and offer work experience to those interested in physiotherapy careers.

When it comes to local sporting events, they have provided free advice and massage at Crafted Classique bike rides. And they have been on hand with training advice before the Great East Swim and the Great East Run, and to provide massage after the event to weary participants.

With the aim of benefitting their own staff and the public, each month the physios produce a health and wellbeing newsletter. It aims to raise awareness about health issues, and put people in the picture about local sporting, social and exercise opportunities.

The newsletter is available in waiting areas and is online