Every day, in hospital wards and clinics across NHS Lothian, the gratitude and generosity of patients and relatives is on display through cards and gifts given as a ‘thank you’ for the care provided by staff.
Now, patients and relatives who wish to thank staff at the Western General Hospital can consider doing so with a healthy alternative to chocolate: “Massage Minutes.”
A ‘Massage Minutes’ scheme is being piloted at the Western General Hospital, with £5 vouchers/thank you cards on sale in the hospital’s Royal Voluntary Services outlets (RVS). The voucher allows staff to book 10-minute head, neck and shoulder massages, giving their mental and physical health and wellbeing a welcome boost.
Massage Minutes is an idea conceived and developed by Juliet Barton, a nurse and massage therapist, based mainly in Stroke and Medicine of the Elderly services at the Western General.
Juliet, a member of the NHS Lothian Nurse Bank, believes Massage Minutes is the first idea of its kind. Explaining the inspiration for the scheme, she said: “Over the years, much has been said of NHS staff and their role as ambassadors for health.
“But staff have come under fire for not practising what they preach when it comes to healthy living, namely maintaining a healthy weight. This is even more relevant today with the focus on tackling rising obesity and the subsequent obesity crisis.”
“Staff love a card and chocolates. Knowing we have made a difference makes it all worthwhile. Yet long shifts and stress and the readily available chocolates turn us into hungry gannets. So my thinking was: what if we could offer something other than chocolate to staff? Something health promoting that reduces staff sickness and stress and contributes to making staff feel valued and supported in the workplace?”
The answer: Massage Minutes. The many benefits of massage are well documented, including enhancing relaxation, reducing muscle tension and stress, improving sleep, relieving emotional stress and anxiety, boosting the immune system and reducing blood pressure.
Juliet took her idea to NHS Lothian’s Chief Executive Tim Davison, who directed her to WGH Site Director Chris Stirling, and it was agreed to run a pilot ‘Massage Minutes’ scheme as a Healthy Working Lives initiative.
Staff do not expect to get gifts from patients and relatives but are always grateful to receive them,” said Chris Stirling. “Massage Minutes is a great way to say thank you, while helping to further improve the health and wellbeing of our staff.”
Massage is provided on the ward at present but Juliet’s vision is for pods to be located in all NHS premises (Staff Appreciation Stations) where staff can go for massage, or whatever treatments the service evolves to offer.
“The benefits of this treatment are established and feedback is 100% positive so far – staff feel empowered,” said Juliet. Feedback such as “…it allows me to deal with stress better on the ward..” and “…make this mandatory please..” are common responses.
Juliet also reports interest from members of the public wishing to buy vouchers for themselves as well as for inpatients, an idea she says has the backing of specialist consultants. The success of the pilot will hopefully lead to it being rolled out across the NHS. We are all becoming more health conscious and this inspires self-care.”
“This isn’t about making money,” says Juliet, “it’s about redirecting and modernising goodwill. All funds raised are used to support giving massages to staff as a way of saying thank you for the care they provide.
“This pilot study reinforces what we have all known all along, prevention really is better than cure. We all deserve a treat now and again, but it doesn’t always have to be a sweet one. Let’s empower the NHS to heed the message of prevention from its very core – its wonderful staff.”
For more information/feedback on the scheme, see:
- Instagram/Facebook: Massage Minutes
- Text/WhatsApp: 07976 375765
- Email: massageWGH@gmail.com
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