The current coronavirus pandemic is creating additional physical and mental wellbeing challenges to all frontline health and social care staff. Primary care clinicians, ambulance staff and emergency department staff are at the very front of that frontline and are coming into contact with many patients. Workload and demands are rising and staff concern has understandably increased as well.

The frontline organisations (including the Royal College of GPs, Association of Ambulance Chief Executives, the College of Paramedics and Royal College of Emergency Medicine) have been working together for several weeks nationally to develop joined up ways of working to support the urgent and emergency care systems and patients, and are also committed to supporting health and social care staff across the UK.

They have all endorsed the attached support leaflet developed by Living Life to the Full. This was initially intended to provide wellbeing advice for frontline staff under pressure, but is now being offered for free to all health and social care staff.

The leaflet also links to the  Living Life to the Full Plus course. A special version of the course is being made available nationally to all NHS and Social Care staff across the UK.

NHS and social care staff can work through the course resources in any way they want. There are modules, numerous online books to read as well as worksheets that can be completed online via your smartphone or computer. It’s also free for use by the family and friends of NHS and social care workers too.

Apart from truly essential workers, we are now all (largely) staying at home- essential to save lives. However these changes are very disruptive to our wellbeing. We have lost the routine and structure to our day. It’s important to rediscover that. You may also notice that things we would usually do that are good for us have been cut down, or stopped. Hobbies, work, interests, meeting people, getting out and about- all the things that give colour in our life.

Here’s a tool to help plan some changes back. There’s lots you can’t do, but what can you still do? Split the day up into morning/afternoon and evening. Plan at least one thing in each part that:

• Is fun/pleasurable: e.g. music, hobby, a walk (2 meters apart, once a day), cooking a nice meal, playing a game
• Connects you to others: talking to people in your flat/house, giving someone a phone/skype/zoom, chatting on social media
• Recognises achievements/things you’ve got done: Tidied a room? Done some work for school/university/college/work, helped someone, cut the lawn etc.
• Helps you keep fit: cooked a healthy meal, went for a walk, exercised at home (e.g. walking up and down stairs), did a yoga or keep fit class online etc.

Make a plan to do each – and write the plan in your diary.
Register at www.llttf.com for more courses, hints and tips (free).