Supporting mental health and wellbeing of our healthcare workers
Since the coronavirus outbreak, staff at Guy’s and St Thomas’ have worked tirelessly to care for our community during the pandemic, often isolating from their own families to protect them. We know that their welfare is key to delivering the best possible care for patients, which is why a key focus of support during the pandemic has been on how to better support their physical and mental wellbeing.
Guy’s and St Thomas’ staff at one of the hospitals’ wellbeing zones
The charity quickly expanded its support for the hospitals’ wellbeing programme, Showing We Care About You, including funding new wellbeing zones
and additional support for colleagues who have experienced bereavement during the pandemic.
Many healthcare workers will experience symptoms of mental illness during a pandemic. With the most acute symptoms sometimes presenting up to three years later, it’s important to continue to support the psychological wellbeing of staff as they begin to recover from the trauma of the past year. In doing so, it will reduce the likelihood of them developing longer-term mental health conditions.
To make sure this challenge is met, a comprehensive psychological and spiritual support package is being funded. Led by Dr Neil Rees, Guy’s and St Thomas’ lead psychologist for staff health and wellbeing and Revd Mia Hilborn, head of spiritual health care, the programme will focus on those of greatest risk of developing a mental health condition.
Dr Rees said: “NHS staff are disproportionately affected by stress, anxiety and depression. Whilst many healthcare workers managed the stress and challenge of working through the COVID-19 pandemic with support from families and loved ones, some colleagues will have persistent psychological difficulties.”
Revd Hilborn explains: “Nobody has experienced a time like this before, and many colleagues will feel the ground has shifted underneath them. This is why spiritual care is important to remind colleagues how valuable they are to the communities they care for.”
Caring for the hospitals’ diverse community
The package of support has been designed to meet the needs of the Guy’s and St Thomas’ diverse workforce. The services offered will be accessible to all colleagues – this includes specific plans and resources for staff working in the facilities team and those working at community sites across south London.
“The programme of support we are delivering in partnership with Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity will ensure all staff – regardless of their role, background or seniority – can reconnect with their psychological resources, confidence and values after exposure to highly challenging situations,” continued Dr Neil Rees.
We know that Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) healthcare workers, and those on lower incomes are disproportionately affected by both higher rates of mortality from COVID-19, and impact on their psychological wellbeing.
To help address this, a BAME Access Psychologist will be available to staff from a Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic background. This has been made possible with funding from NHS Charities Together through the generous donations from the public to their COVID-19 appeal.
The service provided by the BAME Access Psychologist will be co-created with BAME colleagues to deliver accessible and culturally relevant approaches to supporting staff wellbeing. It will not replace but instead support and strengthen the other elements of the psychological and spiritual support programme.
With your ongoing help, we will continue to support the mental health and wellbeing of staff through the coronavirus pandemic, and beyond.
Please note, unfortunately, we are unable to take any telephone calls or process any donations by telephone for the immediate and foreseeable future. You can still donate by credit/debit card and/or make a regular gift by Direct Debit. You can also send a cheque too. Thank you very much for your support. We hugely appreciate it.
Go Online through ourdonation page, make a one-off payment or set up a monthly direct debit.
Or by bank transfer, please contact our Supporter Care team via email info@supportgstt.org.uk and we can provide the relevant details.
If you would like to send a donation by cheque, please make this payable to Guy’s & St Thomas’ Hospital Charity.
If you can include a covering letter with your contact details as well as reasons for donations and what you would like it to be put towards, we will write to you and let you know when the donation has been received.
Please send the cheque to this address:
Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital Fundraising Team
Fundraising Team
Virginia Woolf Building
22 Kingsway, 2nd Floor
London
Can you claim Gift Aid on my donation?
Your donations are only eligible for Gift Aid if you are a UK taxpayer and we have a record of your postcode and donation amount. You must also tick the Gift Aid box on our sponsorship forms (Virgin Money Giving / Just Giving) and donation page.
Please note that we are unable to claim Gift Aid on ticket sales, raffle sales, corporate sponsorship, and sale of goods or auction proceeds.
Can I donate to a specific ward/department within the hospital?
If you would like to help a specific ward or department, we will do our best to find the most appropriate fund for your donation to go towards.
Please note that once a donation has been allocated to a specific fund, we are unable to change this at a later date.
Contact us via email at info@supportgstt.org.uk. Please note that once a donation has been allocated to a specific fund, we are unable to change this at a later date.
If you would like to discuss this more over the phone and find out how we can help, please email our Supporter Care Team at info@supportgstt.org.uk.
What is your charity number?
Guy's and St Thomas' Charity. Registered Charity No. 1160316.
Company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales No. 9341980.
Evelina London Children's Hospital is part of Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust.
What happens to my personal details?
All the personal information about our supporters we collect is processed and stored in accordance with GDPR 2018, and all other applicable data protection laws and regulations. This includes, but is not limited to, the Privacy and Electronic Communication Regulations (PECR).
If you need a new tin, collection bucket or security seal sticker, then please let us know by contacting us via email at info@supportgstt.org.uk and we can send a replacement out to you. Please note, we currently have limited stock on some items, and there may be some delays with deliveries.
How can I volunteer?
Fundraising volunteers are vital to our work at Guy's and St Thomas’ Hospital Charity. You can volunteer with us on events, awareness days, in general or even work with the Fundraising Team.
All our opportunities support our fundraising work and activities, we do not organise volunteering within the hospital. If this is what you are interested in please visit the Guy’s and St Thomas' volunteering page.
Policy for returning donations
We work hard to ensure you have the best supporter journey when you make a donation. Unfortunately, under charity law (The Charities Act 2011) we are unable to refund donations, other than in specific circumstances.
If you believe that a donation you have made should be refunded, then please email info@supportgstt.org.uk and we can advise on what we can do.
Well done Tony, you are a truely amazing little soul!
Tony! What an inspiration you are, so young, so brave and doing incredible things. Keep going and well done for absolutely smashing your target; it is going to an amazing cause and we love watching your journey. You can do it! X x
Dear Tony, what a beautiful, special, precious little boy you are. You are very brave and strong. You are an inspiration to us all. I hope your legs feel good and help you take on your challenge. You can do it!!👍🥰 I've donated because you made me so proud. Lots of love always Jude xxx
You are such an amazing superhero! Keep up the wonderful things you are doing!😀👍🚑🏃
Well done Tony on your 10km walk. We followed your progress. You are a brave little boy. We wish you well! Love xx
You are amazing and an inspiration to everyone - there's nothing you can't do or achieve in this life! Thank you so much
Caroline and Sarah, at The Cardiology Kids launch party in the park
George with his family
Thank you for everything you are doing. So proud of our NHS - heroes don’t all wear capes! Thank you for everything you do for us all and keep as safe as you can all of you. xx
You are all heroes and should be proud of yourselves as we are of you. No words of thanks can ever express the debt of gratitude.
You have looked after my daughter with such care, too which I am eternally grateful. Thank you.
I had my cancer treatment there, undoubtedly saved my life. Thank you.
I was born at Guy's hospital in 1974, and was treated in St Thomas' in 2003, where I was seriously ill for 13 weeks. Thank you for not only giving me life, but saving it too! X
Guy's and St Thomas' have looked after me so well over many years. Thank you for all those years and for everything you are doing in an unimaginably difficult time. Thinking of you and your families at this time. x
You saved my life when I had cancer. Thank you for then and thank you for now. x
The NHS saved my wife’s life 3 times. We love the nurses, doctors, specialists, secretaries - everyone. You are heroes. Sending hope and love.
You are all amazing and will be remembered in history. Stay strong.
Thank you isn’t enough, so a thousand times more.
You are all amazing and do an incredible job. Filled with gratitude and heartfelt thanks.
You are all phenomenal. Thank you so much.
Wishing you well during this crisis. You are all heroes and deserve the support of the whole nation.
From one nurse to all the others all over the world fighting Covid-19 and all the health professionals, I know this word and term is overused but this time it is a real meaning in the truest form of the word: You are all LEGENDS!
How can we ever repay you for what you are doing for us? Thinking of you all. The NHS means everything. Make sure you're looking after your own wellbeing as much as possible. Take care x
You are all genuine heroes. Each and every one of you!
You are all wonderful, heroic people. You save lives every day and you really, really make a difference. We salute you and send big hugs to keep you going. xx