The Shadow Health Minister has welcomed the announcement today (April 16) of the expansion of mental health services for frontline NHS staff.
The service, run by Cardiff University, will offer support and advice to all healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, healthcare professional students, paramedics, therapists, dentists and medical volunteers working in Wales during – and after – the Covid-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic.
Angela Burns AM said:
“I understand that this expanded service will be provided through retired doctors and other healthcare staff who would like to support the NHS during the pandemic but who cannot, or do not want to, return to the frontline.
“It will also include senior academics who are working full time in an academic role, but would like to provide additional support.
“This – coupled with the latest figures showing that more than 2,000 former doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers have re-joined NHS Wales – is very welcome news during some pretty dark times.
“It proves just how well people in Wales will pull together when required, using whatever skills and experience they have to support one another.
“Society, and our way of living, have changed drastically and very quickly since the lockdown started.
“While we all pray for the pandemic to be over and life to get back to normal, I hope the kindness, mutual support, and generosity we see daily will continue.”
The service is available by calling 0800 058 2738, visiting www.hhpwales.co.uk, or by emailing [email protected].