Hospitals: Coronavirus

(asked on 8th March 2021) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the report by the Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch COVID-19 transmission in hospitals: management of the risk – a prospective safety investigation, published in October 2020, what steps they are taking to develop a national strategic focus on adapting NHS work systems to mitigate any risks associated with staff fatigue.


Answered by
Lord Bethell Portrait
Lord Bethell
This question was answered on 26th March 2021

Following extensive engagement with front line staff, NHS England and NHS Improvement recently issued a suite of online products to support excellence in infection prevention and control measures. These products propose actions to tackle fatigue, including creating a culture of kindness and support, an environment which allows staff to speak up and a focus on changing behaviours in non-clinical areas, where staff have been found to be at greater risk of contracting COVID-19.

The National Health Service has put in place a national health and wellbeing offer, which will be maintained during 2021/22 and includes access to a confidential helpline and text service, a range of apps and an online portal of guidance and materials. The content of this offer will continue to be refreshed, based on staff feedback, usage rates and evidence of outcomes.

In November 2020, funding of £15 million was announced to establish 40 mental health and wellbeing hubs nationally. Twenty-two hubs are now active with the remaining due to mobilise by spring 2021. The NHS People Plan also puts health and wellbeing at its core. This includes a new wellbeing guardian role which will ensure board level scrutiny of health and wellbeing support for staff; continued support for staff to get to work and free car parking; a focus on healthy working environments and safe spaces for staff to rest and recuperate; and support to take breaks and annual leave.

Reticulating Splines