Hospital staff areas to get major upgrade

Almost £200,000 is being spent on revamping staff facilities at hospitals across Hull and East Yorkshire.

Staff rooms at Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital in Cottingham are being upgraded over the coming months following a donation by WISHH, the charity dedicated to supporting patients at the two hospitals.

Carl Wheatley, WISHH chief executive, said the refurbished areas would feature improved decorations and furnishings to make the environment "more welcoming and restorative".

He added: "High-quality rest spaces are widely recognised as vital for staff morale, wellbeing and resilience, particularly in high-pressure clinical settings."

Eight staff rooms will be fully refurbished, while 13 areas will have moderate improvements, such as updating furnishing and small appliances.

WISHH said it secured part of its funding through NHS Charities Together, following staff input that helped shape the design of the areas.

Simon Nearney, NHS Humber Health Partnership's group chief people officer, said: "Having comfortable areas where you can go and take a break is really important for your health and wellbeing.

"Unfortunately, some of our staff areas had become tired and poorly equipped, with funding prioritised on improving our clinical areas, so we're delighted that WISHH is supporting us in making these improvements."

The Health Tree Foundation, the charity supporting hospitals in Grimsby, Scunthorpe and Goole, has also submitted a funding bid to improve staff facilities.

The health partnership said it would find out whether the bid had been successful at the end of March.

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