In May 2021, we delivered a project on supporting the wellbeing of urgent and emergency care (UEC) staff in Southeast London (SEL). Emergency care staff experience higher rates of depression, anxiety, and occupational stress and burnout than other healthcare workers. Beyond the literature, the COVID-19 pandemic magnified pre-existing challenges for staff working in UEC settings. Emergency departments have faced a continued strain on staff and resources with possible long-term effects on health and wellbeing. This project identified the impact of UEC work on staff wellbeing and developed strategies to support this workforce sustainably.
Method
As part of our consultation to advance learning and commitment to health and well-being in SEL UEC settings, we engaged with a wide range of stakeholders, including urgent and emergency care staff, department leaders, organisational heads of wellbeing, and wider local system leaders. These stakeholders played a critical role in every stage of the project. Emergency care staff, in particular, were involved, contributing in several key areas: they aided in designing our data collection methods, conducted data collection by administering surveys and recruiting staff for interviews, and participated in reviewing our findings. Additionally, they provided valuable input on the final documents and collaborated in co-writing the Terms of Reference for the subsequent staff wellbeing network.
Findings
This comprehensive approach, utilizing an action learning methodology, incorporated various methods such as a literature review on wellbeing barriers and promoters in UEC departments, system engagement and consultancy for identifying local priorities, leadership interviews, staff surveys for insight into wellbeing determinants and necessary skills for individual and team support, feedback workshops to validate findings, a strategy development workshop for setting departmental wellbeing objectives and identifying collaboration opportunities, and a network building workshop to co-develop local priorities and objectives, establishing the terms of reference for a collaborative wellbeing network.
Impact
The efforts facilitated the creation of the SEL UEC Wellbeing Report and a Network Development Guide, along with conducting a comprehensive literature review focused on the wellbeing needs of UEC staff. Furthermore, they led to the establishment of the SEL UEC Wellbeing Network to advance departmental wellbeing strategies. Insights gained from this project are instrumental in enhancing future wellbeing initiatives, particularly in areas of training and practice, across various UEC departments.
People
Project Members:
Marta Ortega Vega, Research Lead
Chris Attoe, Head of Research and Development (previous)
Kalina Tcholakova, Organisational Consultant
Related page block
- Research and evaluation service page
- Research offers& extras
- Training
- Organisational development