Charities get healthy boost

A FUNDRAISING drive in an NHS Lothian department has dramatically cut sickness absence, it has emerged.

The Edinburgh Community Physiotherapy Service decided last year to take on challenges to raise cash for charity.

Not only did they generate thousands, but it has emerged that sickness levels dropped to 0.6 per cent – significantly lower than the health board average.

Baden Cashmore, senior musculoskeletal outpatient physiotherapist, said the 3,500 raised had gone to charities in Cambodia and India, as well as to Cancer Research UK.