FOR someone who made his name pushing himself to the limit, Sir Roger Bannister certainly knows a bit about the stresses and strains on the body.

The 84-year-old sprinted into the history books when he became the first person to run a mile in less than four minutes at the Iffley Road running track in 1954.

Yesterday Sir Roger, opened the John Radcliffe Hospital’s new occupational health and wellbeing centre for its staff.

Sir Roger, who is also a distinguished neurologist and former Master of Pembroke College, said: “I’ve had three hip operations, and two months ago I had a shoulder operation, so I am very much an admirer of therapists, whether it is physio or occupational, and realise the great work that they do.”

The centre was opened in response to the Boorman Review of 2009. It recommended that healthcare organisations such as hospital trusts should work to improve staff health after finding a link between wellbeing for NHS staff and better patient care.

A survey of nearly 4,000 hospital staff at the trust found those feeling unwell due to work-related stress had hit 36 per cent in 2012.

Last year the occupational health team at the John Radcliffe saw 11,210 people.