‘Use your voice to tell your MP how vital NHS Staff Mental Health and Wellbeing Hubs are’

Major public figures including Stephen Fry have backed the British Psychological Society campaign for the government to commit to at least one year's transitional funding for NHS and social care staff wellbeing hubs. The award-winning actor, writer and mental health advocate called on the government to protect the hubs in England, which were launched in February 2021 in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

In a video for the BPS, Fry warned that the closure of the hubs could have a 'possibly disastrous effect' on the health service. 'When soldiers come back from a war, we like to think we are proud enough as a nation to support them and support them through all the stresses and anxieties and mental health problems that soldiers have after fighting on the front line in a war. We must do the same with our health workers, surely.'

The NHS staff Mental Health and Wellbeing Hubs have provided NHS and social care staff with fast access to free and confidential local mental health services but government funding ended on 31 March. The government has given no indication of future funding with many of the hubs being forced to close.

In February this year the BPS joined with the Association of Clinical Psychologists UK to warn that the government's failure to commit to funding the hubs was 'clinically dangerous', and that inaction risked placing vulnerable NHS and social care staff in psychological danger. This came after analysis of data from 11 hubs showed an average 72 per cent year on year increase in referrals from NHS and social care staff seeking help for their own mental health. The BPS has found up to 13 hubs have already closed, with many more set to close in the coming months as hub staff try to secure alternative funding.

Speaking on the Today programme on BBC Radio 4, Chair of the Division of Clinical Psychology and BPS President Elect Dr Roman Raczka said the hubs had been a lifeline during, and in the wake of, the Covid 19 pandemic. 'Thousands of staff are struggling with their mental health with no support at all.'

When asked about the consequences of the hub closures Raczka pointed out that the hubs helped to maintain staff in the workplace and their closure could lead to greater staff turnover and sickness absence, as well as lower staff wellbeing. When asked about a Department for Health and Social Care statement which said there were other sources of mental health support for NHS staff, Raczka said these services often had very long waiting times. 'The opportunity to have that rapid access to confidential services isn't there. There's long waits for a very overburdened staff support system… so yes it may be there but it's not going to be available to people when they need it.'

On his blog 'communicator, writer and strategist' Alastair Campbell highlighted the Society's campaign to protect the hubs. 'It shows once more that the clapping aimed at keeping up the morale of NHS workers (and getting cheap PR for the government) was easy, but when it comes to practical help for them, the current version of the 13-year-omnishambles doesn't even talk the talk, let alone deliver what is needed. Instead we have Sunak trying to tell us that paying nurses a decent wage would send inflation soaring, while Health Secretary Steve Barclay continues to peddle the Johnson manifesto lie that the Tories are building "forty brand new hospitals."'

The BPS has asked its members, and members of the public, to write to their MPs to raise their concerns and to urge the government to protect the future of the hubs, saying 'We need you to use your voice to tell your MP how vital NHS Staff Mental Health and Wellbeing Hubs are to healthcare workers. Writing to your MP gives you the chance to share your concerns for the health and care staff working in your local area … Even if hubs in your area are still open, they face an uncertain future as they struggle to find alternative funding, so we still need you to act.'

Around 500 people have already used the online tool to take action. The #FundNHSHubs campaign is supported by other organisations including the Royal College of Psychiatrists, NHS Providers, the Association of Clinical Psychologists UK, the British Association for Social Workers, British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, Royal College of Physicians, Royal College of Nursing, and College of Paramedics.