Celebrating the 72nd anniversary of the NHS
Today marks the 72nd anniversary of the formation of the NHS and the UK’s social care system. Halfway through the most challenging year the NHS has ever faced, it’s a poignant reminder of the enormous pressure placed on our NHS staff each day.
Tonight, NHS England have called for people across the UK to come together at 5pm to come together and applaud our front line workers. The move will celebrate those who have sacrificed so much during the Coronavirus pandemic to help care for and protect the 100,000 patients with COVID-19.
Sir Simon Stevens, Chief Executive, NHS England and NHS Improvement commented:
“It’s been the most challenging year in the history of the NHS and staff from across the health service have pulled out the stops like never before to deliver extraordinary care. From the domestic workers on the COVID-19 wards who have worked tirelessly to keep hospitals clean, to medical students heading the call for 111 call handlers and IT professionals working around the clock to keep services running, the NHS has mobilised to tackle this once in a lifetime global pandemic.”
Inspired by the courage shown by NHS workers, but also concerned about the mental health implications for staff who had been placed under such pressure. Charity founders, Harriet Hunt and Sadie Reid, saw the need for a support network to exist alongside NHS services.
Through Duty to Care, NHS staff can now access vital mental health support and wellbeing services to help them to cope with their experiences. Therapies available range from psychotherapy and counselling, to CBT, nutrition, yoga, mindfulness, breathwork and personal trainers.
Sadie Reid, one of the charity’s founders, said:
"One of our biggest desires with Duty to Care is to provide the amazing NHS staff with a range of therapies, so that they can choose the ones that feel right for them. There really is no "one-size-fits-all" scenario when it comes to wellness and so it is important that they are able to try a few different things and work out what feels sustainable and right for them. We want our NHS staff to go beyond "just coping" to feeling their absolute best and, ultimately, cared for".
The organisation also plans to provide long-term support for NHS staff, after Coronavirus has gone. The charity raises funds to cover the costs of leading wellbeing practitioners who have offered to provide their services to NHS workers at much-reduced charity rates. For every £10,000 raised, they can help 250 NHS staff.
Harriet Hunt, one of the charity’s founders, said:
"Through Duty to Care members of the public can show their appreciation and support for NHS workers, whatever stage of their career they are at and whatever their area of specialism is. We hope that we can continue to provide meaningful help for an increasing number of healthcare workers for many years to come. The NHS is something that we feel enormously proud of and I personally feel enormously indebted to."
Birmingham GP Dr Serena Rakha, who is Duty to Care’s new medical advisor, said:
“Since the birth in 1948, there have been huge advances in the NHS – both scientific and structural. With scientific research advances and with the development of medicines – people are living longer with conditions related to heart and lung disease, obesity, diabetes and mental health.
Equally, we need to acknowledge the importance of, and positive impact of lifestyle on managing these conditions as well. My hope for the future of the NHS is that, as a whole organisation there will be more time, training and funding dedicated to optimising quality of life through lifestyle measures, not just for our communities but for NHS workers as well.
We, as NHS workers need to lead by example if we are to provide the best care for our communities. Duty to Care will be an integral part of this not only in offering well being services to NHS workers but in the inspirational ripple effect well being will have in our populations.”