Enhancing NHS staff wellbeing
On the front line of our hospitals are the extraordinary NHS staff who provide outstanding care to patients and their families – morning, noon and night. We believe that by supporting the wellbeing of our NHS colleagues and creating opportunities to further their professional development, we can help our hospitals provide the best possible care. We've enabled NHS staff to pursue ambitious research projects, develop new skills and gain valuable experience outside their normal roles, as well as improving staff facilities to create better working environments. To help us achieve this, we said we would: • fund a research fellowships programme, enabling NHS staff to further their careers while contributing to healthcare innovation • develop our charity membership offer, including access to arts institutions and special offers as a core benefit for NHS staff • provide financial support for the Trust’s recognition scheme, celebrating the achievements of NHS staff. In 2020/21, we: • awarded nine research fellowships totalling £590k to enable NHS staff to develop their research skills and pursue an academic career • provided arts opportunities and benefits to more than 8,000 members of NHS staff through our Staff Arts Club • enabled our volunteers to contribute more than 17,000 hours of volunteering time supporting staff across the Trust’s hospitals • 12
provided a wide range of emergency support for NHS staff facing periods of extreme and unprecedented pressure during the Covid-19 pandemic. IMPERIAL HEALTH CHARITY
Supporting NHS heroes throughout Covid-19 During a very challenging year in which NHS staff have faced the most extraordinary pressure, our work has provided important practical support as well as helping to ensure that hospital workers have felt recognised and valued for their commitment to patient care. Given the overwhelming show of sympathy, gratitude and generosity towards key workers in response to the pandemic, staff wellbeing support was a strong focus of our Covid-19 fundraising campaign and made up a significant proportion of our Covid support expenditure. As a result, we were able to deliver comprehensive emergency support during the surge periods in spring 2020 and winter 2021. In the longer-term, we awarded major grants to provide staff with better access to mental health and wellbeing support through the Trust's CONTACT service and improved working facilities and rest areas. In a survey carried out at the end of the year, 96% of NHS staff working at the Trust agreed they have felt supported by us during the Covid-19 pandemic.
