Celebrating the vital contribution of nurses on International Nurses’ Day

Every single day, well over 350,000 nurses and midwives in the NHS in England play an instrumental role in caring for us, often when we are most in need. 

Currently, many nurses continue to go above and beyond the call of duty, often doing so in challenging circumstances. The issues of ever-increasing waiting lists, treatment delays and staff shortages are all well documented. It makes the continued efforts of nurses, despite these challenges, even more remarkable. 

The toll these pressures have on the workforce should not be underestimated. Recent sickness data released by NHS England revealed that nurses and health visitors took over 1.6 million days off sick during last year because of stress and similar conditions. This equates to an average of nearly a week off work for every nurse in the country, according to analysis from the Royal College of Nursing. 

This is why NHS staff mental health and wellbeing Hubs are needed now more than ever before. 

Last year, the BPS was privileged to speak with senior nurse Ros* who self-referred to her local NHS staff mental health and wellbeing hub. Amid the pandemic, she had experienced a sudden parental bereavement due to Covid-19 and was struggling with her mental health. After a period of sick leave, Ros was supported by the hub to return to work.

"If you spoke to Fran* [the advanced psychological practitioner at the hub worked with Ros], she would say I was the worst person in the world for looking after me. With the hub's help, I've come a very long way, and I don't think I'd have managed to without their advice and support.

"Just being able to talk to somebody outside of your family and outside of what was going on just made such a difference, I felt like nobody was judging me.

"I deal with things better now, and I use the coping mechanisms, advice and toolkit I was given by the hub - what to do in particular situations and when to take a step away, all the things I would never have done before."

The future of the NHS staff mental health and wellbeing hubs remains uncertain after the government withdrew funding in March 2023. Across England, 18 have closed their doors, and nine more face closure in the coming months if further funding isn't found. 

"I think it will be devastating to lose the hubs. I say that from my own personal experience and from that of people I know, who've found it so, so useful and really beneficial. It has maintained people in their roles at work, whereas otherwise we'd have had people going off sick and being off sick for a lengthy time," Ros explained. 

"I do think if you're not in the best place yourself, physically or emotionally, then it does affect the delivery of patient care, most definitely.

"People are going to work and they're exhausted, they're being less effective and you know you're not giving the best you can give."

Nurses like Ros deserve our recognition, but even more importantly they deserve our support. We must do everything in our power to look after those who dedicate their lives to caring for us. 

Find out more: Learning from the NHS Staff Mental Health and Wellbeing Hubs.

 

* Names have been changed to protect identities