Charles Montgomery, best-selling author and expert on how to build cities that make people happier and healthier spoke to health professionals at Auckland DHB on 22 April.

Charles was invited to present as part of the Sustainable Transport Project. The Project is aimed at improving the experience of travelling to Auckland and Greenlane hospitals for patients, visitors and staff.

Mr Montgomery reports that happiness and sense of connectedness are fundamental to healthier communities and backs this up with real examples where building, or  reconfiguring cities which allow people to move more have had a direct benefit on health and happiness levels.

He says, “People talk about diet, but simply walking can have a profound benefit on some  of our major health challenges such as diabetes, heart disease and also on mental health and wellbeing. Walking or cycling has a tremendous impact on mood.”

“A study in the United Kingdom has found that people who switched from driving their car to walking, cycling or public transport were happier over time. The exercise and the connection to the place that comes with the walk made people happier and healthier,” he said.

A recent survey at Auckland DHB has provided a wealth of information about the travel habits and parking challenges faced by staff, patients and visitors to Auckland DHB. Over 3,500 responses were received through online, print and face to face sources.

Ian D’Young, Project Manager and Improvement Specialist said, “The survey results showed one in four patients or visitors report feeling angry or stressed by their journey to our hospitals or clinics. Also, 50 per cent of staff feel angry or stressed by their journey to work, however, those who walked or ran to work were less frustrated.”

He said that although the majority of staff travel to work in cars, many of them are happy to vary their mode of travel and use public transport, walk or cycle, but this was dependent on factors like the weather, convenience and the cost of alternative travel.

“It also depends on people’s family situations. If, like me you had children to drop off at  day-care or school, then you are more likely to travel by car,” Mr D’Young said.

Mr D’Young said data and ideas which have been received are being consolidated and the DHB will look at implementing a number of quick wins, providing travel information and promoting better travel planning to staff in the short term. Moving forward there are plans to hold a number of workshops with staff, patients, residents and local businesses to find longer term solutions, in association with Auckland Transport and AUT.

The Clever Commuters project has been developed in conjunction with the Christchurch City Council and Environment Canterbury to make it easier for CDHB staff to walk, bike, bus or carpool to and from work. It is being launched at the Hillmorton Campustomorrow (16 April), with a view to rolling it out to other campuses later in the year.

James Young, CDHB Sustainability Advisor, says changing how staff get to work, even just twice a week, will benefit staff, patients, the community, and the environment.

“Small changes by a lot of people can have a big impact,” James says.

“Biking, walking, bussing and carpooling can save money, free up parks for patients, and reduce air pollution.

“Walking and biking can help reduce cardiovascular disease and stress levels, can improve mental health, and makes us more productive. Bussing and carpooling are great ways to beat the stress caused by Canterbury’s bumpy roads, congestion and parking hassles.”

To read the full media release from Canterbury DHB, go to:  http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE1504/S00060/cdhb-launches-clever-commuters.htm