17 April 2020

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust is showing support for almost 730 staff on sick leave – by sending them each an Easter egg and a ‘get well soon’ card.

The Trust, which employs around 10,000 people, provides hospital and community services in Surrey, Berkshire and Hampshire.

This includes at Frimley Park Hospital in Camberley, Wexham Park Hospital in Slough and Heatherwood Hospital in Ascot.

Frimley Health is on the front line of the coronavirus pandemic as the NHS faces the biggest challenge in its 70-year history.

And as at many other trusts, Frimley Health staff have received plenty of kind donations from local individuals and organisations in recent weeks, including basic provisions and treats such as Easter eggs.

But almost 730 of the Trust’s staff are currently away from work due to sickness, with many displaying symptoms of Covid-19.

So managers have teamed up with local businesses to show staff who are unwell that their colleagues are thinking of them.

This week, every staff member on sick leave is receiving a personalised ‘get well soon’ card and an Easter egg delivered direct to their door.

Janet King, deputy chief executive and director of HR and corporate services, leads on staff wellbeing at Frimley Health.

She said: “Our staff are the lifeblood of our Trust, and it has never been more important for our colleagues to know that we value them and are here to support them.

“Indeed, ‘Working Together’ is one of our core values, and that is true for our clinical staff as well as for those in support services whose hard work behind the scenes enables us to provide first class care to our patients.

“It’s tough for staff who are stuck at home when they want to be helping their colleagues on the front line.

“These Easter eggs are the least we can provide to show them that we are thinking of them and to tell them we are all in this together.”

The operation was pulled together by Frimley Health membership manager Sarah Waldron, pictured above, with supermarket chain Asda supplying the eggs at reduced cost. Personalised ‘get well soon’ cards were designed and printed by Aldershot-based Apex Direct Mail which, together with Ash Vale based courier Hi Speed Services, covered the cost. Hi Speed Services is distributing the eggs and cards.

Frimley Health has a range of initiatives and measures to support staff wellbeing throughout the coronavirus crisis.

These include 24/7 help from the Trust’s chaplaincy team and employee assistance provider, a dedicated staff wellbeing team, advice on coping with stress, and guidance for managers about how they can support the psychological wellbeing of their staff. The Trust also signposts concerned colleagues to a range of local and national organisations and resources.