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

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Charity has received £49,697 to expand wellbeing support for NHS staff as services enter what is predicted to be the busiest winter period on record for A&Es and ambulance services.

The funding comes from NHS Charities Together and NHS England as part of an £11m programme, which includes a £5m contribution from NHS England. It is one of 29 projects across England to be awarded a grant this autumn.

NHS staff continue to face significant pressure, driven by rising demand for services and increasing vacancies. Research from NHS Charities Together shows that almost half (47 per cent) of NHS staff surveyed said their job was affecting their mental health, and 41 per cent their physical health.

The grant will enable Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Charity to deliver the International Staff and Student Integration Programme, offering support to international staff and students as they transition to living and working in the UK.

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, said:

“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.”

The programme will provide an advice service to help staff understand local systems and host onsite events to bridge knowledge gaps around the NHS.