A wide range of support is available to colleagues, as outlined on our staff support poster. This includes details of how you can access further information, coaching from the Trust’s wellbeing team, suggested wellbeing apps and one-to-one counselling services. Please make sure you access this support that is available and look after your personal wellbeing.
Joined Up Care Derbyshire has developed further wellbeing, health advice and support for health, social care and community staff in relation to the COVID-19 virus on its website.
Colleagues can also access a range of health and wellbeing apps via the NHS Employers website.
A new wellbeing support line has been launched, to support and advise healthcare staff during the Coronavirus pandemic. Volunteers from charities including Hospice UK, the Samaritans and Shout, will listen to concerns and offer psychological support. The phone line will be open between 7am and 11pm every day, while the text service will be available around the clock. The phone number is 0300 131 7000 or staff can text FRONTLINE to 85258. Please see more details on the attached poster, which you can display in your area of work.
Mental health professionals, led by Dr Michael Bloomfield at University College London, have also issued advice and a video for front-line healthcare workers on how to cope with stress during COVID-19:
- Give yourself permission to take regular breaks during your shifts
- Eat, drink and sleep as well as you can
- Try to use strategies that have helped you cope with stressful situations in the past
- Take time out between shifts
- Stay in touch with friends and family – video-call and phone them if you can't see them in person
- Engage in physical activity
- Maintain a routine as much as possible
- Plan regular activities that make you feel good, and tasks that take your mind off the crisis
- Avoid unhelpful coping strategies such as smoking, alcohol or other drugs
- Try to limit the time spent watching, reading or listening to the news
- Reach out for help if you need support.
Our Spirituality and Wellbeing service – led by our Chaplaincy team – is available to all patients, relatives and staff, regardless of a person’s faith or beliefs. Normally, the Chaplaincy team would hold regular services for people to attend but these have had to be cancelled.
Instead the Chaplains are going to lead ‘online services’ which can be viewed as videos on a specially created YouTube channel.
In addition, the Chaplains are available to speak to colleagues and service users on a confidential one-to-one basis over the phone. They can be contacted on 01332 623700 ext. 33358 or 07584 888656.
Please see a poster which you can display in your areas.
