Bucks NHS Trust encouraging staff to seek support after difficult year
An NHS Confederation reports shows staff across the county are struggling
Last updated 25th Mar 2021
NHS Staff in Buckinghamshire are being encouraged to use support services available.
Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust are highlighting the support services they have available for staff struggling after the difficult year.
Coronavirus impacted all areas of society but the health service was immeasurably impacted by the outbreak.
The NHS Confederation says are there are "significant'' numbers of staff with depression and anxiety and a small minority will have post-traumatic stress disorder.
The report explains:
"For health and care staff, the last 12 months have been likened to sprinting a marathon, with concerns raised over the impact on health and wellbeing.
"Anxiety, fear and exhaustion among staff are reported to have increased over the pandemic, affecting a range of staff groups and taking a toll in particular on staff from a black and minority ethnic background.
"Some staff, particularly those who are experiencing anxiety or processing what they have and are experiencing, may require 'decompression time'.''
Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust had systems in place before the pandemic focused on the support of staff.
However, Bridget O'Kelly, Bucks Trust's Chief People Officer, says that the last year has made it even more important:
"There has been the physical element of wearing PPE for a long period of time and then the psychological impact which is something we are paying particular attention to looking at our responsibility to staff.
"As a trust we are really fortunate to have an in house occupational and wellbeing team, as well as a leadership and organisation team.
"Of course we have lots of psychologists working in the trust and we have always drawn on the expertise. Throughout the last year we have recognised the importance of adapting these services to meet the needs of our colleagues.
"Even for our colleagues who don't need to access the support just know it is there is really important.
"Colleagues particularly working on the front line give a lot of themselves and so the emotional support is really important.
"We also offer it for teams, because we know that sometimes it is easier to lean on your colleagues who know what you are going through."
The NHS Confederation said that while staff cannot have a period of decompression in the same way that armed forces personnel do after military deployments, local health leaders need to be creative to ensure that staff can rest and recuperate.
It added that anxiety, fear and exhaustion among staff have increased during the pandemic, saying that 'building in time for staff to rest and recuperate is essential'.