Health staff urged to join biking scheme (From Thisisdorset)

Health staff urged to join biking scheme

10:33am Monday 8th September 2008 in

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NURSES are being urged to buy new bikes and ride to work in a new scheme.

Dorset Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust staff are being offered a leasing agreement for up to £1,000 worth of cycling equipment that they can pay back from their salary tax free.

The scheme acts as a cycle hire agreement for the new equipment, which becomes the property of the NHS worker at the end of their payment plan.

The cycle to work' scheme has been designed by the trust as a way to help their 1,800 workers travel to work in an environmentally friendly way.

Chief executive Roger Browning said: "This cycle to work scheme has already been very well received by staff - from nurses and therapists to office based staff.

"In fact the initial idea originally came from a staff suggestion and we are always looking at ways to improve our environmental credentials further.

"We are working hard to reduce our carbon footprint by investing in new, improved and more energy efficient buildings.

"We also look to source locally wherever possible and meat for in-patient and staff meals is bought from Dorset."

Recruitment manager Lynne Chellingworth, who set up the scheme, said it will help improve workers' fitness.

She said: "For everyone that joins the scheme it is one less car off the road.

"As the repayments are made from worker's gross income they stand to make a 30 per cent saving.

"So if they choose a £500 bike they will save a significant amount of money.

"We've already had people join the scheme and it has only just started so we are really pleased."

Dorset Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust provides mental health, learning disability, addictions, community brain injury and community dental services in Dorset.

The trust hopes staff based at Forston Clinic in Dorchester and in the learning disabilities community team at the Jubilee Business Park in Weymouth will take up the scheme.