Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Charity awarded £49,697 to deliver vital wellbeing support to NHS staff

As the NHS enters what is predicted to be the busiest winter period on record for A&Es and ambulance service, Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Charity in Worcestershire will be able to provide crucial support to help improve the wellbeing of local NHS staff, both now and in the future, thanks to a £49,697 grant from NHS Charities Together and NHS England.

The grant has been awarded as part of an £11 million programme – which includes a £5 million contribution from NHS England – and is one of 29 ambitious projects across England to receive funding from the programme this Autumn.

NHS staff are the driving force behind our healthcare system, but they are currently working in some of the toughest conditions in history, with growing pressure from increased demand for health services and rising NHS vacancies. Research from NHS Charities Together has highlighted that almost half (47%) of NHS staff surveyed said their job was affecting their mental health and 41% their physical health. That’s why projects such as this are more important now than ever.

Through this funding, Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Charity will deliver support to international staff and students, supporting their transition into working and living in the UK. The International Staff and Student Integration Programme will focus on providing an advice service for staff to help them understand local systems as well as onsite events to help bridge knowledge gaps of the NHS.

These projects will help ensure that NHS staff have the support they need to continue to provide the best possible care for patients when it matters most.

Sophie Burt, Head of Fundraising and Community Development, at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Charity said: “We are incredibly grateful to NHS Charities Together and NHS England for this funding. Our new programme aims to support international staff and students at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust. The grant provided will allow for us to better support our brilliant staff both to settle into life in the UK and to bridge the gap of starting work within the NHS. The programme is set to deliver a vital support system to international colleagues, and we are grateful to have received funding to launch this programme.”

Ellie Orton, CEO, NHS Charities Together, comments: “Many NHS staff feel that theirs is the best job in the world, but these roles come with a tremendous responsibility for the lives they care for, and at a time of incredible pressure on health services, this takes a toll on their mental and physical wellbeing.

“In the face of so many wider healthcare challenges it can be easy to forget about healthcare staff, but it goes without saying that we need a healthy workforce if we want a thriving NHS that can give patients the care they need.

“This funding means NHS charities like Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Charity can help ensure NHS staff prioritise their own health and wellness with the same care they give to patients, and we are delighted we can support this important work. We’ve spent a lot of 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.

Applications are now open for a second round of grant funding as part of this programme, in partnership with NHS England, and we’re excited to continue our work with NHS charities and other organisations to help the NHS go further for everyone.”