9th March 2026
While many of us sometimes struggle to fit in a workout, those who work within the NHS or emergency services often do long, unsociable hours with shifts around the clock. So it can be a particular challenge for them to find the time for exercise. Additionally, days are frequently unpredictable in that people don’t know exactly what they will face when they start a shift, and there’s no sign that pressure on this group will ease anytime soon.
With leisure hours irregular and often infrequent, many are understandably reluctant to pay for indoor gym membership when opening hours and, say, classes, may not suit their schedule, despite the rise in 24-hour facilities. It may be impossible for them to commit, for example, to a regular Tuesday evening spin session. What’s more, the current lack of or restricted on-site exercise facilities can present another barrier to staying active.
There is a drain on energy for those doing this physically and emotionally demanding work with, typically, a vicious circle of exhaustion and limited recovery between shifts. Working patterns may also cause issues with diets and eating habits; staff may regularly rely on energy drinks, takeaways and grabbing food on the go.
Yet with their exposure to extreme stress, potential for injury through activities such as manual handling and sometimes sitting down for extended periods (e.g. ambulance drivers and call handlers), this group of workers needs exercise for their physical and mental health as much as anyone else, if not more so.
The journal for Paramedic Practice, for example, reported that paramedics can be especially vulnerable to cardiovascular disease, mental health issues and musculoskeletal harm. But exercise can reduce the physical demands of lifting for these personnel and other front-line medical workers.
So while every employer needs to think about how they can have healthier workforces, this issue is perhaps even more acute across fire, police and ambulance staff and NHS medics.
And while every employer is concerned with productivity, in the blue-light sector where the pressures are especially intense, stress relief and mental health are particularly important, given that this work can literally be a matter of life or death.
Outdoor gym equipment could be of particular value to emergency service and medical staff. Since it’s fitted at their place of work, this immediately lifts the barrier of having to get to a workout amenity, with workers able to exercise during a break or before or after a shift without having to travel anywhere else.
There are no opening and closing times and these facilities are free for staff at the point of use. Another bonus is that if space is tight, pieces are fitted outside which also, of course, allows people to experience the added advantages of exercising outside, from breathing fresh air to feeling closer to nature.
At Fresh Air Fitness, we’re a leading supplier of award-winning outdoor gym equipment. We work for an extensive line-up of clients, including emergency and related services such as prisons and the MOD.
We recently teamed up with Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to fit outdoor gyms across its Churchill, John Radcliffe and Horton hospitals. This supports staff wellbeing at one of the biggest NHS teaching trusts in the UK.
Each site had a 10-piece package designed to balance strength and cardio training for a full-body workout and provide a safe, inclusive space for all staff members, whatever their ability or starting level of fitness, accessible 24/7 thanks to our use of robust materials and robust grass-mat surfacing.
Regular exercise is an essential part of wellbeing for NHS staff in training, especially given the high-intensity nature of medical training, long hours, frequent sleep deprivation and significant emotional pressure. There is value in exercising outdoors in the fresh air, which is why it is so important to provide free outdoor exercise facilities for staff. This is just one of thousands of projects we’ve installed across the country, and we’re with clients from initial consultation through to installation, aftercare and beyond.
Our outdoor exercise equipment encompasses more than 50 different pieces, allowing users to work on balance and flexibility as well as cardio and strength. Check out our special offers on various outdoor gym packages. Plus we offer a 25-year guarantee on all our pieces and have been in business for nearly 20 years.
Get in touch to learn more about outdoor gyms for your emergency, medical, prison or MOD staff and help them to be better placed to help others as they carry out their vital work.
