Health and Wellbeing at Nuffield Health

Supporting our people was a priority throughout the pandemic, whether they were working, or had been furloughed. A Hardship Fund was made available for people in exceptional financial difficulty to help cover their living expenses. Work undertaken in 2019 to promote an open and supportive culture around mental health issues stood us in good stead as we all tried to make sense of the pandemic.

Regular communications encouraged our people to take time to look after their own health and wellbeing. To help them do this, our Healthy Work hub provided a wealth of information in the areas of emotional, financial, physical and social wellbeing. Our aim was to equip people to respond to the challenges of the pandemic at work and at home.

With COVID-19 impacting people’s health and wellbeing in so many ways, 180 Emotional Wellbeing Champions (EWCs) were trained across the Charity to provide a point of contact for anyone struggling to cope or undergoing emotional distress. The EWCs are able to recognise signs and symptoms of mental ill-health, and know-how to refer colleagues for additional support.

Specific emotional support was made available to our clinical teams who were experiencing unprecedented challenges on the front line, supporting the NHS in the fight against the virus. The leadership team was encouraged to provide help and support to anyone exhibiting signs of distress.