NEW funding will help to further develop a hub launched to support staff working in health and care services across the region.

The hub was set-up to help meet the mental health and wellbeing needs of the 100,000-plus people employed in the sector in West Yorkshire and Harrogate.

Now more than £1 million has been secured by the region’s Health and Care Partnership to maintain and develop the facility.

The funding, to the end of March next year, is from NHS England/NHS Improvement.

Partnership bosses say staff wellbeing is a top priority, as the pandemic puts increasing stress on health workers.

In latest research carried out by King’s College London – involving more than 700 employees at nine intensive care units across England – nearly half reported symptoms of severe anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder or problem drinking.

The hub is already taking shape, with clinical workers and other professionals recruited into a project team.

Dr Sara Munro – the chief executive officer lead for West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership’s mental health, learning disabilities and autism programme – said: “This funding from NHS England and NHS Improvement means that we can move quickly to enhance support for staff, ranging from individual psychological therapy through to easy access to groups and services that are able to respond quickly and appropriately to people’s needs.

“We are mobilising this hub at pace, using our connections with organisations in the public, community and voluntary sectors – as well as the NHS – to identify those who need this help now and to build sustainable support for staff wellbeing in the future.”

Brendan Brown, who is chief executive of Airedale NHS Foundation Trust and the chief executive officer lead for the partnership’s workforce programme, said: “As we learn more about the impact of the pandemic on the mental health of our colleagues, we know that we have a responsibility to take even greater steps to support and care for them.

“This applies to all colleagues working in acute and mental health trusts, in general practice, in community, voluntary and social care and in roles that are less visible but just as important in supporting our communities.”