• Health Education England have published a report on improving mental health support for NHS staff.
• Recommendations include fast-tracked referrals, tailored support sessions after traumatic incidents, rest spaces for on-call staff, a 24/7 advice phone line and the introduction of a “workplace well-being guardian” in every NHS organisation.
• Health and social care secretary Matt Hancock will back the recommendations in a speech today at East London NHS Foundation Trust.
  
  

Responding to Health Education England’s NHS Staff and Learners’ Mental Wellbeing Commission report, the head of policy at NHS Providers, Amber Jabbal said:

“Day after day we see NHS staff going the extra mile for their patients while working in a very challenging and pressured environment. We welcome this report from Health Education England which focuses on supporting their mental health.

“Workforce issues are the number one concern for NHS trusts. Staff shortages and rota gaps are increasing the workload and burden for existing staff. As well as increasing the supply of staff, we must do more to encourage its staff to stay within the NHS.

Staff shortages and rota gaps are increasing the workload and burden for existing staff. As well as increasing the supply of staff, we must do more to encourage its staff to stay within the NHS.

Amber Jabbal    Head of Policy and Strategic Projects

“One in three NHS staff has reported illness due to work-related stress. We must urgently address this. NHS trusts are already working hard to make improvements to the support they offer to their staff. These recommendations will support those efforts. However, we can do more to improve staff morale by tackling work-life balance, improve the working environment and offer more training and development support to staff.

“It’s important that this investment in NHS staff is seen in the wider context of improving access to high-quality mental health services for the wider population as set out in the NHS long term plan.”