Bradford Hospitals’ Charity has funded 30 wellbeing rooms and two wellbeing gardens across Bradford Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust, which runs Bradford Royal Infirmary and St Luke’s Hospital, to support employees’ mental health during the coronavirus outbreak.
The 32 new areas are proving popular with staff. They allow workers to get away from busy wards and give them a chance to gather their thoughts in a calm environment.
The areas were made possible thanks to money raised from the charity’s NHS Hospital Heroes Appeal, as well as grants from the NHS Charities Together Covid-19 Appeal. Money raised also paid for sofas and soft furnishings, coffee machines and kettles, microwaves, artwork and self-care items for staff.
Head of Fundraising, Hayley Collis, said:
“I’m delighted that Bradford Hospitals’ Charity has been able to support the creation of 32 calm spaces throughout Bradford Teaching Hospitals to support our NHS staff. These are spaces where staff are able to stop, reflect and recharge and take a short break. The rooms are designed to help reduce anxiety and have information about how to access further support, including counselling, mindfulness and psychology support.
“Whilst our NHS staff are facing these unprecedented times, we will continue our support to ‘top up’ these spaces with appropriate items including comfort packs of hand-creams and wellbeing items such as mindfulness materials too. This has only been possible because of the amazing support from our local community – for example, Sonic Electricals in Bradford, was one of the first companies to step forward to supply electrical goods to kit out the first 10 wellbeing rooms with fridges, microwaves, coffeemakers and kettles.”
Chief Nurse, Karen Dawber, added:
“Our staff face huge challenges at the current time and we’re working hard to make sure we can support both their physical and mental wellbeing. All of the rooms have information about how to access further support including counselling, psychology support and support in relation to traumatic incidents. One has a laptop which can be used for video calls to the pastoral support team and another is located within the hospital’s counselling service where a qualified therapist is present if needed.”
You can find out more about the Bradford Hospitals’ Charity NHS Hospital Heroes appeal at https://bradfordhospitalscharity.org/nhshospitalheroes.
