Top award for team caring for healthcare workers
A stress-busting team supporting the region's health and care workers has won a prestigious national award for its work.
Expanded last year, the NHS's Staff Health and Wellbeing Hub cares for more than 175,000 staff in the North East and North Cumbria, with concerns ranging from burnout and anxiety to back pain and menopause.
Now its success has been recognised at national level, taking top spot in the Valuing Our People category at the first NHS Excellence Awards.
The team's leader Dr Richard Duggins attended the awards ceremony in Manchester with Samantha Allen, chief executive of North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) and other team members.
Dr Duggins said: "This is fantastic news for the region and a real accolade for the team. Health and care staff are incredibly dedicated, but they are under a lot of pressure right now.
"It's important to support our staff, but the hub's success is good for everyone. If we care for our staff, they are better placed to offer the best care for patients.
"Every time we help a health professional stay well and stay in work, that's one more person able to run a clinic, carry out an operation or help to lower waiting lists."
"Nine out of ten people tell us the hub helped them stay in work, or return to work."
The 7-strong team, which sees more than 200 people every month, is led by mental health professionals, also offering access to specialist help with musculoskeletal, menopause care and alcohol issues.
Run by specialists from Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, it's part of the ICB's WorkWell programme which helps people across the region to tackle health problems that make it hard for them to work.
With around £30 million in government funding, WorkWell is helping thousands of people to stay in work, with health and work coaches in GP practices as well as extra support for back, menopause and mental health issues.
Samantha Allen, the ICB's chief executive, said: "For a small group who help so many people stay on track, this award is richly deserved. The hub team have pioneered a new approach which helps individuals, reduces staff absences and strengthens our services.
"In our region, one person in 18 works in health or care, so this is a key part of our WorkWell approach to help people overcome health issues that make it difficult for them to stay in work."
Research shows that every pound spend on the wellbeing hub leads to a saving of at least £3.19 for the NHS in productivity and reduced absences. Among 1,285 referrals in its first eight months, 71% saw a clinically significant improvement, at a cost of just £351 per person.
· If you work in health or care services in the North East or North Cumbria, you can find out more about how the Health and Wellbeing Hub can support you on the ICB's website.
· If you live in the North East or North Cumbria and your health problems are making it hard for you to stay in work, you can get support from a health and work coach by contacting your GP practice or refer to our website