Previously pop-up stands have been set up near the main restaurants across the Trust’s three main sites in Bassetlaw, Doncaster and Mexborough, however now Katie Smith, who works in the Health and Wellbeing team, works with departments directly to offer this service, speaking to the relevant managers and setting-up pop-up clinics in areas where staff go for a break. The ambition is to give colleagues easy access to these healthy checks, ensuring they have every opportunity to know their numbers.
Speaking about the project, Katie said: “We know that quite often some members of the team don’t get the chance to leave the ward or their service area – something which has become even more challenging throughout the pandemic. So, we have decided to do what we can to bring certain services to staff, offering to check their blood pressure and their BMI, as well as advice for follow-ups.
“It’s about giving staff that awareness and ability to take a proactive approach to their own health. The nature of our jobs mean that we are all very good at looking after other people, but sometimes we do not show the same care to ourselves – and this needs to change.”
The project is funded for 12 months by South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Integrated Care System (SYB ICS) and Katie hopes to be able to offer this service everyday she is in work. The clinics take place across all three sites (Doncaster Royal Infirmary, Bassetlaw Hospital, and Montagu Hospital), as well as the Trust’s external locations.
Katie continues: “If we pick up that a colleagues’ blood pressure is high, we can then give the advice that needs to be given, get them to go to their local practice and look at how we can support in their workplace. By offering this service, we may be picking up potential issues earlier, and at time when whatever the issue is can be solved with some timely advice and signposting.”
The project is now underway, with Katie and the team visiting colleagues each and every week.
Karen Barnard, Director of People and Organisational Development at the Trust, said: “This is a fantastic development at the Trust and one which I hope a number of colleagues will take up. Within the NHS, colleagues are often so focused upon caring for others, they miss the vital signs and symptoms when something isn’t right with themselves. By offering these tests in a place and time that is convenient, we are able to ensure that we are looking after our teams as much as we can, signposting to advice if they need it, or simply giving people peace of mind.”