Health organisation takes dose of own medicine

Health organisation takes dose of own medicine

Christchurch's largest general practice and support organisation is shaking off snow, quakes, and any loss-of-world-cup-games blues with a morale boosting initiative that’s just plain fun.

Staff at Pegasus Health's Bealey Avenue office and at its 24 Hour Surgery are immersing themselves in World Cup fever, with 19 workplace groups each adopting one of the visiting rugby teams, and decorating their areas of work accordingly.

The initiative was launched by the Pegasus’ Health Wellness committee, whose brief, like that of the organisation, goes beyond physical health to mental and emotional wellbeing.

“We advise people all the time who are struggling after the quakes, to reconnect with the things that make them happy,” says Mental Health Team leader Cerina Altenberg, who leads a group of clinicians based at Pegasus, “We encourage people to pursue pleasurable activities and enjoyable pastimes, especially important in these difficult and stressful times.”

The pod decorating has injected a sense of fun, energy and enthusiasm that we haven’t seen since before the quakes started,” says Pegasus Health Chief Executive Vince Barry, “People have worked so hard over the past year under such difficult conditions, it’s just great to see smiles on faces, hear laughter, and have some levity around the place.”

Pod dressing ground to a halt at the Bealey Ave site last week almost as soon as it had begun, after new cracks were found in the building.

“People all over the region know how demoralising that can be. It was great to have a fun focus to come back to once the building got the all clear. And it provided a real sense of camaraderie.”

The pods will be judged by Canterbury coach Rob Penney on Monday morning (September 19), with the winning team will receive a lunch.

Amongst those competing will be the Long Term Conditions team, who have created snow from cotton wool for their Canadian-themed space, the Clinical Support Services team, who now share their pod with a mannequin dressed as a Samoan rugby player, and the HR Admin and Claims team, whose ‘HollyPod’ features life-sized versions of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.

© Scoop Media