NHS Charities Together and NHS England have committed to invest £2.4 million as part of a programme to boost mental and physical wellbeing support for NHS staff.
The grants are part of an £11 million workforce wellbeing programme and will fund 29 projects across England. These aim to change the way NHS workers are supported to improve their wellbeing inside and outside of the workplace.
Many projects receiving grants as part of the first wave of funding have been designed in response to NHS workers’ specific needs or challenges. These include wellbeing solutions for night workers, neurodiversity tools and improved trauma support.
Ellie Orton, chief executive officer at NHS Charities Together, said: “Many NHS roles come with a tremendous responsibility for lives, and at a time of incredible pressure on health services, this takes a toll on employees’ physical and mental wellbeing. In the face of so many healthcare challenges, it’s easy to forget about healthcare staff, but we need a healthy workforce if we want a thriving NHS that can give patients the care they need.
“This funding means NHS charities can help ensure NHS staff prioritise their own health and wellness with the same care they give to patients. We’ve spent time talking to frontline staff and analysing evidence from previous projects to arrive at solutions that will give healthcare staff the right tools to look after their own wellbeing. NHS Charities also have a role to play in reaching and improving wellbeing for all staff, our aim is to share insights of what works and help scale these interventions to transform how NHS staff are supported in future.”
Duncan Burton, chief nursing officer for England, added: “It’s vital that we support employees’ health and wellbeing. This new programme will trial the latest innovation to help address some of the biggest challenges that staff say affect their working lives, from specialist tools and support during night shifts to greater support after trauma or for those who are neurodivergent.”
