26 October 2018

The tables have been turned on the Clinical Trials team at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital (RSH) – who have volunteered to be the research ‘guinea pigs’.

The research team, along with other staff at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH), are taking part in a research trial with the University Centre Shrewsbury. The study is focused on preventing problems associated with too much sitting at work.

Professor John Buckley, Dr Edwin Borman and Lizzy Deery with the ‘sit-stand’ desks

Participating staff have all been given ‘sit-stand’ desks – with the aim that they will be on their feet for up to half of their normal working day.

Professor John Buckley, from the University Centre Shrewsbury, is Research Project Leader and an international expert on sedentary behaviour. He says that up to 60% of NHS Staff have a desk-bound job, with some staff spending as much as 70% (11 hours) of their entire day, sitting.

He said: “Many studies already have shown a very strong connection to cardiometabolic diseases like diabetes linked with too much sitting. For those who even play sport or do exercise in their leisure time, unless they’re doing more than five hours of vigorous exercise per week, they too are still at risk.

“Our study, managed by Lizzy Deery, lecturer at University of Chester, is specifically looking at the elasticity and stress responsiveness of the blood vessels in people with desk jobs. She has now scanned and pressure tested the blood vessels of 10 hospital staff. We’re now going to see if two to three months of using a ‘Sit-Stand’ desk can improve blood vessel health.

“Our own studies to date, carried out in offices and in large ‘call centres’, have already shown significant improvements in blood glucose levels and worker’s feelings of wellbeing at work.

“Hopefully, by the New Year, we can add further good news to this simple matter of changing how people work at their desk, and how, over time, it can improve health and prevent disease.”

Dr Edwin Borman, Medical Director at SaTH, is one of those taking part in the study.

Dr Borman is a ‘typical case’, having changed job from being a doctor on his feet in operating theatres and on wards, to now being a largely desk-bound hospital Director with lots of paperwork, reports and meetings filling his day.

He said: “The Trust is very committed to enabling research through its clinical trials team for the benefit of our patients, so we are delighted to be able to help with this important research being carried out by the University Centre Shrewsbury.”