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• June
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• Knowsley launches drive to improve cabbies' health

Knowsley Council and Knowsley NHS Primary Care Trust has launched an initiative aimed at improving the health of the borough’s male taxi and private hire drivers.

The Council has a copy of the “Haynes Owners Manual for Knowsley Man” available for every taxi driver in the borough to mark Men’s Health Week, which runs until June 15.

Haynes Manual: A guide to the Knowsley Man gives readers advice on a range of issues including male cancers; heart disease; weight problems and blood pressure. They also receive advice on how to get the problems “repaired”.

The manual, based on the famous car maintenance manuals, is being used as part of Knowsley’s Working Well Programme; a joint initiative between the Council and Primary Care Trust.

Cllr Ken Keith, Knowsley Council’s Cabinet Member for Corporate and Customer Services said: “We are targeting male taxi drivers with this initiative because we recognise there are a number of factors about their work which could contribute to poor health.

“We want to do all that we can to improve the health and lifestyle of people working in the borough through Working Well and, realising that men are often unwilling to visit their GPs for routine health checks, we are handing out this manual to try to educate them more about men’s health issues.”

Diana Forrest, Director of Public Health for Knowsley said: “This manual is written in a style which we hope will attract local men, and help them to understand the health issues which affect them.”

All taxi and private hire drivers in the borough have already been offered a health check to assess blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and the opportunity to access quit smoking services and discounted exercise programmes.


Editor's note

The Working Well Programme is a project being led by Knowsley’s Environmental Health and Consumer Protection Team, aimed at improving the health of the Knowsley workforce and supporting businesses in fulfilling their duties under health and safety legislation. The project also helps businesses provide occupational health benefits to their employees, such as discounted gym memberships, and in house smoking cessation services.

The Working Well Programme has links to other Council and Knowsley Primary Care Trust initiatives as well as 3rd Sector organisations to help businesses create healthy workplaces for their employees.

Taxi Drivers have traditionally been excluded from these benefits by the solitary nature of their work. However, the Working Well Programme has opened up access to the benefits enjoyed in other employment areas, to local taxi drivers.

During Men’s Health Week, drivers are also being given a free lanyard and tax disc holder. A Working Well 5 a side football team will also be challenging teams of drivers to a game of football during the week to encourage an active lifestyle for the drivers.

For more information about the Working Well programme, and how it can benefit your business and your employees, call 0151 443 4723.

Pictured is Cllr Ken Keith, Knowsley Council’s Cabinet Member for Corporate and Customer Services (right) with Billy Eller, chairman of the Knowsley Hackney Carriage Badge Holders Association and a driver for All Black Cabs.