Leading clinicians call for immediate action to protect the mental health of those on the pandemic frontline
Professor Clare Gerada, MBE, Professor Jane Cummings and Professor Sir Cary Cooper, CBE are among those backing the call.
A group of leading clinicians are calling upon the country’s health service leaders to ensure they are ready for the potentially longer term impacts of coronavirus on the mental health and wellbeing of frontline and other workers.
The NHS Clinical Leaders Network (CLN) – including doctors, academics, paramedics, Professor Clare Gerada MBE, the former Chair of the Royal College of GPs, and the former Chief Nursing Officer for England, Professor Jane Cumming – is warning about the possible impact of the pandemic on the mental health of frontline and other workers.
In a paper issued yesterday (17 May 2020), the CLN is urging the health care system to act immediately with their spokesperson, Dr Andrew Coley Chief Clinical Officer, warning: “Lessons learned from past outbreaks and evidence from around the world shows us we can expect notable increases in mental ill health and related issues for frontline workers as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“While preventing the spread of Covid-19 is still a public health priority, we’re saying that this emergency will also leave a mental health legacy in its wake, a legacy that could inflict a damaging toll on NHS and other frontline staff as well as the public at large.
“The paper we’ve published is an urgent call to action. It makes it clear that healthcare leaders should not wait until this problem is upon us; the time to make ready is now. The time for action on mental health for our frontline workers is now.”
The CLN paper also advises senior management, clinicians and other health and social care professionals on how they should start preparing now to ensure robust plans are in place to both prevent and deal with the threat of pandemic-related mental ill health.
“Our call to action seeks to both alert people to this vital issue and to signpost them to help and resources that are already available with our partners,” added Dr Coley.
The NHS has worked quickly with colleges, mental health charities, third sector organisations and Arm’s Length Bodies to offer a range of apps, online tools and podcasts to help bolster resilience.
Access to this is through the telephone number 0300 131 7000, or text FRONTLINE to 85258 or online Health and wellbeing support. In addition local organisations, areas and regions have created a myriad of local support offerings but these are variable in levels of coordination.
*Have you tried to access mental health services during the coronavirus outbreak? Share your experience via our COVID-19 survey to assess how the pandemic is affecting people’s ability to access services.