EXCLUSIVE: Raphael Healthcare has launched an initiative to support employees who wish to give up smoking.

The initiative, called New Leaf, was introduced in September and communicated via newsletters, team briefs and staff forums.

Esther Josiah, HR manager at Raphael Healthcare, says: “Employees attend a meeting with a practice nurse who provides help and support as to how to give up smoking. This is followed with a series of sessions.”

The healthcare organisation was also awarded a Healthy Workplace award from Simplyhealth in October for its commitment to the health and wellbeing of its employees.

The organisation, which has 200 employees, provides a range of benefits under its health and wellbeing programme, including a health cash plan, an onsite gym, free food and drinks for staff, free flu jabs, stress management training and access to occupational health.