THE health and wellbeing of our colleagues is something we have discussed on numerous occasions over the past few months.
We have talked previously about the benefits of healthy eating and exercise but it is also a fact that mental health problems affect one in four people which has a massive effect on their wellbeing. We know that too many people are made to feel isolated because of mental health issues and that is why we are promoting Time to Talk Day on February 6th this year.
We’re supporting this because we want to encourage people to be more open around mental health – to check in on their friends and colleagues and to listen to them if they need some support.
Chatting about mental health needn’t be awkward and you just never know when you might make a big difference to somebody’s life just by listening.
There’ll be a presence on the mezzanine at BVH throughout the day, with information, advice and giveaways. Please pay the team a visit on the day and help us to end mental health discrimination.
We are hoping that colleagues across the Trust can promote the Time to Talk message too and there is a resource pack where you can download free materials at: https://www.time-to-change.org.uk/resources
Director of Nursing, Peter Murphy, has produced a video promoting the day which can be seen here:
The power of love
THIS week we saw a truly heart warming story from Ward 24 at Blackpool Victoria Hospital.
Viv, a patient on the ward said she wanted to marry her long time partner Fred as soon as possible and within hours staff had put out a call on social media for help and support to make the wedding happen and be a special occasion. Offers came flooding in and staff on the ward did everything they could to make sure the wedding was a fantastic day for the couple and their friends.
It is occasions like this that show just how amazing staff here at BTH are in terms of putting the wishes of the patient first and going way over and above their normal job roles to help others. The feedback was absolutely amazing and I’d lie to say a massive thank you to everyone involved.