Now listening to @ProfNGreenberg on “catch up” at the #BGSconf today.

On health and wellbeing for staff through the #COVID19 pandemic.

Experiences have of course varied a lot, but it’s not been a normal year...

More sources of info in slides.

What is “Moral Injury” and what causes it?

These slides remind me of the challenges of being a junior doctor all those years ago. I think we’ve never really solved some of the issues, three decades later? Even pre #COVID19.

From the #BGSconf.

The thing we do know now that we didn’t then, is that there’s research to show that moral injury is bad for you...

#BGSconf

So who do we turn to?

Probably we’re a bit like the military. We talk to our peers & our partners, not to the formal sources of support.

I certainly talk to my (non medical) husband. Often in very vague terms:

“Just take it as read, I’ve had a bad day...”

#BGSconf

Supervisors can help, especially if they are psychologically savvy.

I noticed this long before #COVID19, that the therapy & social care staff all had regular supportive “supervision”.

As Drs & nurses we tended to have a cup of tea & an informal debrief.

#BGSconf

We can train people to be able to help others, and they can learn more about doing “Active Listening”.

Even a short 1-2 hour course can improve confidence & skills.

#BGSconf

Peer support can help a lot. Low level psychological support, but also identifying who might need a bit more than just that...

#BGSconf

We also need to know about the pitfalls. Routine psychological debriefing isn’t the right thing, and medication should not be a first line treatment.

(Interesting, as I’ve seen both those offered in the past.)

Active monitoring is good.
#BGSconf

“Distress is normal after difficult events” says @ProfNGreenberg.

“Don’t over medicalise it.”

#BGSconf

Use the strategy PIES:
(Validated by a 20 year follow up study )

Proximity
Immediacy
Expectancy
Simplicity

#BGSConf

Keep people in the workplace but reduce their load & support them.

Early on its normal to struggle, later is more worrying.

As we get to the next phase of evolving a new way of working rather than a return to “normal”, we need to do more than “what went well, what went badly”.

We need to reflect together that we were all in the same storm, even if not in the same boat.

How did we feel?

#BGSconf

We need to get to the point where we know we did the best we could, and to move forward.

Yes, services need to recover. But staff need to recover in order for that to happen.

Wise words from @ProfNGreenberg on the #COVID19 pandemic at the #BGSconf today.

So what are the tips?

Talk to your team. You won’t know what they’ve been through unless you ask them.

Actively monitor them.

Ensure timely access to evidence based care for those that need it.

Thank you @ProfNGreenberg!

#BGSConf
#NHSRecovery
#MedEd
#COVID19
#SayThankYou