Prime Supporting Police in Fit for Life Program - From the Line
Staff at Palmyra Police Station in Perth’s inner south have shed blood in the name of living well with recent Fit for LIFE health checks to test for potential health problems.
Customer Service Officer Pat Morrison organised the health appraisals, conducted by private medical contractor Prime Health as part of Fit for LIFE’s worksite health appraisals program.
“It’s a chance to get the basic testing done and a good excuse to put on a free feed to make up for the pre-test fasting,” she said. “Given the fact that most of the people here are shift workers, getting 17 staff to sign up for it is a good response.”
Fit for LIFE Executive Manager Mark Neates said free worksite health appraisals have been running for the past three years and were available to all WA Police personnel.
“A simple blood test can identify potential health issues involving cholesterol, blood sugar levels and for men older than 45 years, prostate cancer,” he said. “The appraisals also consider obesity, blood pressure, diet and physical activity levels. Police can be more susceptible to some of these health problems because they’re shift workers in a high-stress environment.” Test results are generally returned within a week, at which time staff can discuss any identified health problems with the testing nurse. Mr Neates said he hoped to assess about 500 staff this year.