Our COVID-19: Are You OK? Pledge
08/10/2021
This article is more than two years old.
Oxford University Hospitals supports the principles of the Nursing Times COVID-19: Are You OK? campaign.
This means we recognise the often-distressing nature of caring for patients with COVID-19, particularly when patients numbers are high and resources are stretched.
We also recognise the potential negative impact on the mental health and wellbeing of nurses and other staff of working through the coronavirus pandemic, and are committed to providing support to those who are affected. We recognise that the effects of this work may be delayed and/or enduring and will ensure support remains available after the crisis has passed.
In supporting the campaign we pledge the following.
Through our 'Growing Stronger Together - Rest, Reflect, Recover' Programme, to look after the wellbeing of our people and teams, and enable our recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic.
The aims of our Growing Stronger Together - Rest, Reflect, Recover Programme are as follows.
- Meet the immediate need for rest and recovery
- Build the culture of learning, compassion and inclusion
- Facilitate post traumatic growth through a new enhanced level of support for teams to focus on Recovery, Readjustment and Reintegration
- Support sustainable service recovery and workforce planning
- Build working lives that have more flexibility and autonomy
As part of this we expect each member of our staff to have a 'Wellbeing Check-in' and at least one follow-up meeting with their line manager (or nominated other individual) by March 2022.
We have also built a Guide to Health and Wellness on our website for all our staff to access, which focuses on the six dimensions of wellness - emotional and psychological; environmental; financial; occupational and intellectual; physical; and social.
Staff are the heart of our organisation; you have ensured the NHS was not overwhelmed in the initial peak - often at great personal cost - and continue to provide excellent and compassionate care to patients and their families.
It is our responsibility to care for you, and to ensure that you are more than OK.
Sam Foster, Chief Nursing Officer, said: "The response of our teams during this exceptionally challenging period has been extraordinary. As we move the future, ensuring the wellbeing of our staff is an absolute top priority for our Trust, and we will go above and beyond to care for them, so that they can continue to provide the best possible care for our patients."