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NMH | 2024 244 Appendices Healthy Ireland T he Healthy Ireland (HI) Working Group at The National Maternity Hospital (NMH) supports staff and patient wellbeing under the pillars of the national Healthy Ireland (HI) program. The group links with the regional Healthy Ireland group for IEHG (changing to Dublin South East Regional Group) and reports on plans and activities in line with national guidance. Healthy Ireland themes are embedded into patient care in practice at the NMH. Midwifery-led smoking cessation support for pregnant women and nicotine replacement for staff are available. Antenatal nutrition and wellbeing education, breastfeeding information/ support, and the use of MECC (making every contact count) for health promotion is routinely included in antenatal clinic assessments. The antenatal booking checklist includes routine questions for every woman that can lead to onward referral as needed. The NMH uniquely funds and supports the Hollestic meal planning and recipe app for pregnancy, which is widely used by women across Ireland and around the world to support healthy eating in pregnancy free of charge. For staff, the NMH Healthy Ireland team engaged in awareness and health promotion activities throughout 2024 (examples below) and the upcoming annual plan and calendar for 2025 were outlined at the end of the year. The BeneKit Wellbeing App and toolkit is made available to staff free of charge. The Employee Assistance Program provides support for staff and their families through counselling, career coaching and financial planning free of charge. The NMH canteen is subsidised for staff, and was the recipient of the Irish Heart Foundation Gold Award in recognition of the heart healthy meal options available. A highlight in 2024 was the Workplace Wellbeing Day supported by HR. Events included meditation sessions online and in person, 'Random Acts of Kindness' and social media highlights with the help of the communications team. Highlights for 2024: • Staff Health Assessments in January and October • Marchathon and Walktober activity challenges • Workplace Wellbeing Day events and NMH staff getting their steps in for Marchathon! Marchathon is a fun team Step Challenge that takes place in March each year. stand on theme of Kindness & Respect- April • Men's Health Awareness – know your numbers – June • Nutrition & hydration information posters campaign (ongoing) • Park walk and free packed lunch & promotions for World Mental Health Day- October. • World Diabetes Day stand, quiz and morning yoga with diabetes team- November • Light up Your Life – bike lights from the NMH Bike Fairy Working Group members: Sinead Curran (chair), Helen McCrimmon (secretary), Sarah Browne, Caoimhe de Brun, Damian McKeown, Carl Alfvag, Liz Byrne, Aoife Menton, Claire Daisy O'Reilly, Jenny FitzGerald Thanks to all NMH staff who continue to support each other and women attending the NMH, by incorporating Healthy Ireland principles in their work and by engaging in staff health promotion activities.