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Health and wellbeing

West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust takes good care of its staff, so together we can take good care of our patients.

As a healthcare organisation we have a duty to support our community’s health, but as an employer we also have a duty to support our staff.

In our five year strategy, 'Our patients, our hospital, our future, together', we made a clear and substantial commitment to make prevention of ill health a core part of everything we do. You can read more about our focus on this in our 'Protecting and improving your health and wellbeing, together' publication.

We also have a Health and Wellbeing Policy.

Ensuring our staff’s mental wellbeing also helps provide good quality patient care; a healthy and happy workforce will also ensure the best service to patients. The Trust offers staff a number of support mechanisms to help them look after their own wellbeing.

Physical wellbeing

  • Active travel
    • information on cycling and walking to work. Buying a bike tax-free, cycle parking and shower facilities
  • Shower facilities -
    • If staff want to cycle or run to work or do some exercise at lunchtime there are showers and changing facilities near the staff entrance/general office
  • Time Out restaurant
    • Our staff restaurant has won awards for its healthy, fresh, home-cooked food
  • Sports groups and staff clubs
    • Colleagues can connect with each other on social staff Facebook pages, to find a team to join, promote a club, or meet with people with similar hobbies
  • NHS health checks
    • OneLife Suffolk runs monthly clinics at Hardwick Lane and in community locations to provide NHS health checks for staff, volunteers and visitors. Call 01473 718193 to book.
  • Stop smoking support
    • You're four times more likely to quit with the help of occupational health. Staff can call 01284 713424 or visit OneLife Suffolk.
  • Weight management
    • The occupational health team can help any staff who would like to lose weight. Call 01284 713424 or visit OneLife Suffolk, which also provides free group classes.
  • Musculoskeletal problems
    • We have a specialist occupational physiotherapy service for staff who have musculoskeletal injuries, and staff can self-refer for this service. To complete a referral please click here. 

Mental wellbeing

  • Care First
    • A counselling and support service for all employees. Over the phone or online, it's completely confidential and available 24/7.
  • Tea and empathy 
    • On-call emotional support for anyone who is having a really bad day.
  • Hypnosis, relaxation and mindfulness 
  • Sports groups and staff clubs
    • Physical exercise and socialising are both great for mental wellbeing. Colleagues can connect with each other on social staff Facebook pages, to find a team to join, promote a club, or meet with people with similar hobbies.
  • Neyber
    • A debt management service for any staff who may be experiencing financial stress.
  • Liftshare 
    • Travel with a colleague, share the driving and enjoy some company on the way to work.
  • Books on prescription
    • West Suffolk Hospital library stocks self-help books on a wide range of topics including stress, worry and relationship problems.
  • Chaplaincy
    • Regardless of whether you are religious or not, the chaplaincy team provides: a listening ear in times of difficulty or crisis, whether personal or work; a space to talk about life, the purpose or the meaning of things; and pastoral counselling. If you have a faith, they can also provide support with: practicing your faith or spiritual tradition; making contact with representatives of other faith communities; and prayer support.
    • Pop into the Chapel at West Suffolk Hospital during office hours (the kettle is always on!), or phone ex. 3771, or 01284 713771 from an outside line.

Abbeycroft Leisure

The Trust has partnered with Abbeycroft Leisure to offer all staff free access to Abbeycroft@home – offering live online and on demand group exercise classes.

There are live classes streamed every day as well as an on-demand library of sessions available to watch whenever you want. Classes include Zumba, clubbercise and much more. 

If you're a member of staff, visit the intranet for information on how to sign up.

External resources