Hospital trusts are creating wellness rooms in broom cupboards for ‘hero’ staff using £20 million donation from NHS Charities Together
- NHS Charities Together (NHSCT) has already raised incredible £116m for NHS
- Organisation’s chief executive Ellie Orton appeared on Good Morning Britain
- Told one in three of their trusts have already set up the ‘vitally important rooms’
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
NHS Charities Together say it’s ‘vitally important’ to set up hospital wellness rooms in a bid to improve the mental health of ‘hero’ hospital staff.
Six weeks ago, NHS Charities Together (NHSCT) the membership body for local health service fundraisers, launched a coronavirus appeal and has since raised an incredible £116m.
Ellie Orton, the organisation’s chief executive, from Warwick, appeared on Good Morning Britain today where she told that NHSCT, the organisation Colonel Tom Moore fundraised over £30million for, has donated £20million to local trusts already.
She explained that one in three of their local hospitals have already set up ‘wellness rooms’, so staff are able to relax in an area away from their unit, and socialise with staff members they may have been separated from during the coronavirus crisis.
NHS Charities Together (NHSCT) chief executive Ellie Orton (pictured) told on GMB it’s ‘vitally important’ to set up hospitals wellness rooms in bid to improve the mental health of ‘hero’ hospital staff
She was joined by staff at St Thomas’ hospital in London, Dr Liam Whittaker and Matron Tammy Stracey (pictured) who told the room would positively impact their mental health
‘It’s vital we take care of NHS staff who are looking after patients,’ said Ellie. ‘We need our NHS staff to be fit and well to care for our patients.
‘We talk about NHS heroes and they’re humans. Giving them a space that is about their wellbeing, giving them time to reflect and look after themselves, to talk to colleagues or just be quiet is vitally important, so they can continue giving the very best care possible to patients.’
Ellie explained there are 240 NHS charities in the country, 234 of which are members of NHSCT and receive grants through the organisation, with several using whatever space they can to create a new space for staff.
She told: ‘We’ve already granted out £20 million and from the feedback we’ve been receiving, about one in three have been setting up these wellness rooms.
Ellie explained to host Lorraine Kelly there are 240 NHS charities in the country, 234 of which are members of NHSCT and receive grants through the organisation
Matron Tammy Stracey said: ‘I think our staff will really appreciate somewhere to come that’s off the unit and separate from the normal staff room’
‘I think some are literally converting broom cupboard so staff can have some alone, time to some fantastic centres hospitals are setting up.’
Ellie was joined by staff at St Thomas’ hospital in London, who told that wellness rooms would massively improve the mental health of them and their colleagues.
Matron Tammy Stracey said: ‘I think our staff will really appreciate somewhere to come that’s off the unit and separate from the normal staff room.
‘It gives them a place to have some time out and maybe somewhere to meet with other colleges you’ve been separated with due to the coronavirus crisis. It’s really important we focus our attention on them and make sure they’re looked after.’
Ellie explained that one in three of their local hospitals have already set up ‘wellness rooms’, so staff are able to relax in an area away from their unit
Dr Liam Whittaker added: ‘We talk in our team quite often and say it’s important to have somewhere to come before and after the shift. It’s important for our mental health and go home and carry on.’
Speaking of life in the hospital now, Tammy went on: ‘I think it definitely has calmed down a little, but we’re in a lull but nobody thinks this is the last we’ll see of it.
‘We are by no means standing down, our staff have really risen to the challenge, but this is a time we can regroup and focus on getting the next stage right.’