Frontline NHS workers can now access individual coaching support in a bid to ease the pressures of the COVID-19 crisis.
In a new NHS initiative called #LookingAfterYouToo, primary care colleagues can now talk to trained, experienced coaches – either over the phone or via video link.
Available to both clinical and non-clinical staff, the support aims to provide workers with the chance to process experiences, handle difficult conversations, develop coping skills and develop strategies to self manage in difficult situations.
The service, developed in collaboration with the Royal College of General Practitioners, runs alongside a variety of health and wellbeing resources.
Additionally, the support is available for not only those employed by the NHS directly but also those who are contracted to deliver work on its behalf.
Resilient profession
This comes as NHS England reveal routine dentistry is unlikely to return by the end of June.
In a second coronavirus-focused webinar, the chief dental officer for England, Sara Hurley, and the director of primary care and system transformations, Matt Neligan, said they are yet to fix a date for business to return as normal.
Taking place last Friday (April 24), the dental profession, however, was told NHS England are committed to giving ‘reasonable notice’ when it comes to reopening practices.
‘This is not a lone wolf battle. This is myself working with a myriad of many other individuals and there is a lot to do,’ said Sara.
‘I also know that a lot of you share personal loss that COVID-19 has brought. Individuals have lost loved ones and we’ve been unable to say our goodbyes.
‘I know we are going to emerge from COVID as a resilient profession’
To register for coaching support, NHS primary staff should visit https://people.nhs.uk/lookingafteryoutoo/
