Looking after our people

The NHS achieves extraordinary things for patients, but safety and health and wellbeing matter just as much for our people. If we don’t look after ourselves, and each other, we cannot deliver safe, high-quality care. COVID-19 has spurred the NHS on to put much greater focus on this, which we must continue and build on.

The pandemic has already had a significant physical, mental and psychological impact on our people – and this will continue for some time to come. Many people are tired and in need of rest and respite. Evidence tells us that those in caring roles often wait until they are very unwell before raising their hand. So we must all encourage each other to seek help – and seek it as soon as it is needed. And leaders, teams and employers need to keep offering people support to stay well at work, and keep offering it consistently, across teams, organisations and sectors.