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Homepage | News | Dudley Group NHS Charity Celebrates Launch of New Staff Wellbeing Rooms Across the Trust

Dudley Group NHS Charity Celebrates Launch of New Staff Wellbeing Rooms Across the Trust

Dudley Group NHS Charity Celebrates Launch of New Staff Wellbeing Rooms Across the Trust

The Dudley Group NHS Charity today officially launched a series of newly refurbished staff wellbeing rooms across Russells Hall Hospital, made possible through a £121,000 grant from NHS Charities Together’s Stage 3 Covid-19 Recovery Grants Fund.

New wellbeing rooms located in Russells Hall’s Emergency, Trauma & Orthopaedics, the Elective Surgery Hub, Gynaecology, Respiratory and Renal Departments have been transformed into calm, welcoming and restorative spaces designed to support the physical and emotional wellbeing of clinical and non-clinical staff.

The launch event on 20th January was attended by Diane Wake, group chief executive of The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, Karen Kelly, chief operating officer and deputy chief executive, and Ellie Orton OBE, chief executive of NHS Charities Together, who toured each area and officially cut the ribbon to mark the opening.

The project was delivered by a multidisciplinary working group which had strong executive oversight and staff involvement throughout. Staff teams were engaged in choosing décor, furniture and artwork to ensure the rooms truly met their needs.

Diane Wake, group chief executive of the Dudley Group, said: “Our staff give so much of themselves every single day, and it is vital that we create environments that support their wellbeing, rest and resilience. These new rooms offer calm, modern and comfortable spaces where colleagues can take a moment away from the pressures of clinical care. I am incredibly proud of what has been achieved and grateful to everyone involved in making this possible.”

Ellie Orton OBE, chief executive of NHS Charities Together, said: “NHS staff continue to face extraordinary challenges and investing in their mental and emotional health is absolutely essential. These spaces will make a meaningful difference to the day-to-day experiences of staff, both now and well into the future, and we’re proud to have supported the Dudley Group NHS Charity in creating them.”

Debra Vasey, matron, said: “This space has already brought such a positive change to our team. Having a quiet, clutter free and comfortable area means staff can truly switch off, recharge and connect with one another. It’s a simple but powerful improvement that shows staff wellbeing really is being prioritised.”

This was a project shaped by staff; the charity received a number of applications across the Trust. Each space was assessed through site visits and criteria scoring by representatives from the Charity, Wellbeing and Estates teams. Following detailed evaluation, seven rooms were selected for refurbishment.

Staff feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, highlighting the value of calm, uncluttered and quiet spaces along with comfortable, modern furnishings. They also highlighted they now have great areas to eat, rest and connect socially based in convenient locations.

The charity is looking to fund other rooms across the Trust, if anyone is interested in sponsoring a room, please contact Nithee Patel, head of fundraising, on Nithee.patel@nhs.net.