UHSussex takes positive action on health and wellbeing.
Our staff are our greatest asset. They work tirelessly to provide compassionate, professional, respectful and inclusive care – putting our patients’ first. We care for our staff so they can continue to provide outstanding care to our patients.
Quicklinks
Mindfulness courses for Sussex Healthcare staff
MBCT is a structured 8 week group programme combining mindfulness meditation with cognitive and behavioural therapy exercises. The course lasts for 8 sessions and each session is 2 hours long.
Find out more Mindfulness courses for Sussex Healthcare staff
Mental and emotional wellbeing
Please note that some links may only open on devices connected to the NHS network. If you have any questions about support and activities available please contact: uhsussex.staffhealth@nhs.net
Wellbeing webinars
Make your wellbeing a priority – if you missed our live wellbeing webinars then there’s still chance to listen back. The content is timely and engaging and offers a great opportunity to learn and reset after a challenging year. The webinars were funded by our Trust charities based on a grant awarded from NHS Charities Together for recovery post-Covid.
The webinars are:
- Leading Wellbeing
- Relaxation
- Energy – prioritising your wellbeing
The sessions last 60 minutes and can be watched via Iris.
Email Divya.beri@nhs.net with any queries.
Staff in Mind – mindfulness course
A Mindfulness course is a chance to take a pause, to learn a different approach to manage stress and difficulties, to reflect on what’s important to you and to take care of yourself.
The course is offered free of charge to all health and local authority social care staff across Sussex, including administrators and management staff. You will need agreement from your Manager to attend.
View the attached page for more information and how to sign up.
2022 Staff in Mind – mindfulness groups (all online)
- Thursdays 18.30 – 20.30 (21 April – 16 June)
- Thursdays 14.00 – 16.00 (28 April – 30 June *no session on 19 May)
- Saturdays 10.00 – 12.00 (30 April – 25 June)
- Wednesdays 11.00 – 13.00 (4 May – 29 June)
- Mondays 18.00 – 20.00 (9 May – 4 July)
- Fridays 15.30 – 17.30 (22 July – 16 September)
- Thursdays 18.00 – 20.00 (8 September – 10 November *no session on the 6 October)
- Mondays 18.00 – 20.00 (12 September – 14 November *no session on the 3 October)
- Thursdays 10.00 – 12.00 (15 September – 17 November *no session on the 6 October)
- Fridays 15.30 – 17.30 (30 September – 2 December *no session on the 7 October)
- Mondays 17.00 – 19.00 (10 October – 5 December)
- Tuesday 10.00 – 12.00 (11 October – 6 December)
- Fridays 10.00 – 12.00 (14 October – 9 December)
- Tuesdays 09.30 – 11.30 (18 October – 13 December)
- Mondays 10.00 – 12.00 (24 October – 12 December)
Counselling
Chaplaincy
Our Chaplains are always happy to listen and are available to speak individually or signpost you to other services or agencies. Responsible for the spiritual and religious care of patients and staff, of all faiths and beliefs, or none. If you or one of your patients, or their relatives would value a listening ear please contact us:
Call St.Richard’s hospital ext. 35380; Worthing hospital ext..84004; Royal Sussex County site ext.4122; Princess Royal hospital ext.8232 or email uhsussex.chaplaincy@nhs.net.
Library services
The Library have a huge selection of rich resources to support your mental wellbeing and resilience and have put together a book collection based on just this. View the collection for more information.
You can also access more resources from the Health Sciences Library, Worthing Hospital: uhsussex.library@nhs.net, ext. 85025 and Dunhill Library, St Richards Hospital: uhsussex.dunhill.library@nhs.net / 32733.
Listening services
NHS links – one You and Staff in Mind
Schwartz Rounds/Team Time
Become a UHSussex Green Ambassador
Green Ambassadors is a new staff network for colleagues who are passionate about environmental sustainability and who want to share ideas, innovate and champion improvements in their teams. You can hear updates about local and national initiatives, get into contact with likeminded colleagues and departmental groups. There is also a focus on nature and wellbeing in terms of improving and promoting green spaces and active travel.
There’s no minimum time commitment and the aims are:
- to get everyone involved in the environmental strategy at the Trust
- create more sustainable clinical pathways
- work towards the wider NHS aim of getting to net-zero carbon by 2040.
To join or find out more, email uhsussex.green@nhs.net or check out Environment Week – UHSussex Intranet
Wellbeing e-learning resources
Available on iris or on staff-net:
Wellbeing Apps
Headspace:
The meditation and mindfulness app Headspace has extended their offer to all NHS staff to join for free until 31 December 2022. Find out more about the Headspace app and how to sign up.
Please find some useful resources:
- Meditation on the brain video
- Headspace Science
- Google & Roche study
- 10 days of headspace (beginners guide)
- How to use Headspace (2 min video)
- Headspace Youtube
- Headspace founder Andy’s video on change:
- Headspace frequently asked questions
Stay Alive:
The Stay Alive app is a suicide prevention resource in the UK with lots of useless information and tools to help you or a loved one to stay safe in a crisis. You can use it if you are having thoughts of suicide or if you are concerned about someone else who may be considering suicide.
Unmind:
Unmind is a mental health platform to empower staff to proactively improve their mental wellbeing. It includes digital programmes that are designed to help with stress, sleep, coping, connection, fulfilment, and nutrition. You can have free access until 31 December 2022.
Wellbeing hubs
Coming soon! Wellbeing hubs will be opening at RSCH, PRH, Worthing and St Richard’s soon. Pop in for a cup of tea, try your hand at a decompression activity and enjoy a massage. Look out for more details.
NHS Retirement Fellowship
The NHS Retirement Fellowship is the organisation for retired NHS and Social Care staff, providing a bridge between life in employment and new opportunities in retirement. Members can enjoy a range of activities and interests meeting former colleagues, making new friends and participating in a variety of events. Walking, golf, photography and sightseeing are just some of the activities enjoyed, and members benefit from various discounts including cruises, holidays and annual worldwide travel, home and car insurance.
Visit the website for details of over 150 branches, events, and activities: www.nhsrf.org.uk.
You can also call the free membership team number on 0800 9151455 or you can contact the secretary of your local branch, Anne Jones: annecjones@tiscali.co.uk
Staff Support Line
This is a confidential staff support line, operated by Samaritans, and is free to access from 7am-11pm 7 days a week. The line is here for you if you may have had a tough day at work, feeling worried or a little overwhelmed. Whatever your worries are, trained advisers are here to help with signposting and confidential listening.
Call: 0800 069 6222 or text FRONTLINE to 85258 for support 24/7 via text.
Bereavement Support Line
This support line is operated by Hospice UK and is free to access from 8am-8pm, 7 days a week. A team of fully qualified and trained bereavement specialists are here to support you with bereavement and wellbeing issues relating to loss experiences through your work. Call: 0300 303 4434.
Zero Suicide Alliance
Follow the link below to access a range of free online learning sessions that provide you with a better understanding of the signs to look out for and skills required to approach someone who is struggling with either social isolation or suicidal thoughts. https://www.zerosuicidealliance.com/training
Physical wellbeing
Free health checks
As part of the health and wellbeing package at UHSussex, the Health and Wellbeing Team are pleased to offer free and confidential health checks for staff who are at a higher risk from COVID-19 due to their health, race, disability or pregnancy. Anyone who is over 60 or was previously shielding is also eligible.
The sessions are run by healthcare professionals from TPHealth, our external Occupational Health provider, and aim to support staff’s health and wellbeing during the challenging winter period. Sessions are self-directed and can address any aspect of staff’s health and wellbeing. Appointments could include activities such as a body composition, cardiovascular assessment, mental wellbeing assessment and a life style discussion.
At UHSussex, we are committed to equality for all our staff, and recognise the health inequalities that certain groups face. The staff at TPHealth are comprehensively trained to support individuals’ varying needs, including topics such as nutrition for different ethnic groups, Mental Health First Aid for LGBTQ+ communities, and exercise with at risk/clinical populations.
To book a health check appointment, please access the relevant links below. Only available appointments will appear and once all appointments are fully booked there will be no clickable appointment times. Dates for further clinics in the coming weeks and months will be released in due course, so if you are unable to book an appointment this month, please revisit this page at a later date.
- Worthing Clinics
- St. Richard’s Clinics
- Southlands Clinics
- Royal Sussex County Clinics
- Princess Royal Clinics
The booking system will confirm your appointment directly, and email reminders will be sent to you a week, and 24 hours before your appointment, along with a reminder on the day. If a booked appointment needs to be cancelled up to 24 hours prior to the appointment, please use the booking system below. If a booked appointment needs to be cancelled less than 24 hours prior then please email: healthandwellbeing@teamprevent.co.uk.
If you have any questions, please contact the Health and Wellbeing Team at uhsussex.staffhealth@nhs.net.
Carer’s passport
We recognise the diverse nature of caring responsibilities within our workforce. The purpose of the Carer’s passport is to enable staff with caring responsibilities and their managers to hold supportive and open conversations to discuss and document the flexibilities needed to support combining caring and work. These conversations involve balancing the needs of the staff members with the needs of the department, within existing UHSussex policies. The aim is to minimise the need to re-negotiate these flexibilities every time a staff member moves post, moves between departments or is assigned a new manager. The carer’s passport can be completed by any staff member who has caring responsibilities which they believe could have an impact on their ability to work currently or at some point in the future. All information will remain confidential between the manager and the staff member and not shared unless prior agreement is sort from the staff member. This is designed to be a ‘live’ document to be reviewed every year and/or in response to any changes in the nature or impact of the caring responsibilities.
You may also want to join our colleagues as carers group.
Exercise clubs and leisure activities
- Yoga with Sonia. Contact sonia.sobowiec@nhs.net. Every Tuesday 17:30-18:30pm.
- Football with Jamie. Contact jlewis7@nhs.net. Every Tuesday 17:30-18:30 in East Brighton Park. Sign up soon before summer ends!
- Knit and Natter with Joseph. Contact joseph.laffan@nhs.net.
Digital weight management support for our NHS people
This offer is a new and exciting programme available to NHS colleagues living with obesity, to provide support needed to stay healthy and active. The programme offers free, online access to a 12-week management programme which is designed to be personally tailored to support you on your journey to a healthier lifestyle. As a digital programme, it can be used anywhere, allowing you to complete the programme in your own time, at a pace that works for you. You can find out more details here.
Healthier You – NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme
The Healthier You programme can help those with diabetes to improve their diet, get more physically active, and achieve a healthy weight with an aim to support you on your journey back to a Healthier You.
NHS colleagues can find out if they are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes using the Diabetes UK risk tool – it only takes a few minutes and could be the most important thing you do today. If your score comes back as a ‘moderate’ or ‘high’ risk, you’ll be invited to sign up to your free local Healthier You programme. Search ‘Know Your Risk’ or visit riskscore.diabetes.org.uk to find out more.
Eye tests
We have a pre arranged agreement with Specsavers to provide staff with a free eyetest voucher. In order to qualify for this you must be a ‘user’ as defined in our Display Screen Equipment policy (Section 4.7) and must have completed a DSE Checklist & Risk Assessment within the last 12 months. Once this is completed you can then apply for the voucher.
Health passport
The Health Passport is a new supportive tool for any staff that have long-term health conditions that may need to have a workplace or reasonable adjustment. The passport is voluntary and provides a structured way of having and recording meaningful conversations about health and adjustments between staff and their line manager or supervisor.
Menopause cafe
Going through the menopause can be a difficult and stressful time for staff. In order to make sure you have the support you need we have put together a useful Menopause Guide with tips and advice on managing the many effects it can have. We also hold Menopause Cafés in order to create a supportive culture where staff feel comfortable and able to talk about how it is affecting them, their friends, their families and their colleagues.
The sessions will be led by specialists from within the Trust and cover a range of topics including symptoms, guidance and self-care for individuals, guidance for managers as well as supporting menopause in the workplace.
Additional support and advice can be found on these websites:
Occupational health services
Onsite restaurants and refreshments
Physiotherapy for staff
We offer a service to all staff to assess, treat and advise on any musculoskeletal condition that are affecting your ability to carry out your duties at work.
Staff rest spaces
Stopping smoking
This is a flexible service, tailored to the needs of staff, outpatients and their relatives, and visitors attending RSCH. You attend an initial assessment (15-20 mins) with a qualified smoking cessation advisor who help you to set a quit date and measure your carbon monoxide readings. You are then asked to return each week or fortnightly for a 5-10 minute consultation to discuss how you are getting on and to receive your nicotine products. Currently offering phone consultations rather than face to face due to Covid. Call Pharm@sea in Brighton on 01273523257, Mondays to Fridays 9.00am – 6.00pm, Saturdays 9.30am – 1.30pm.
Financial wellbeing and discounts
NHS staff support line
You can call this support line provided by the Money Helper service for free and impartial money guidance from Monday – Friday, 8am-6pm. Contact details: Call: 0800 448 0826
WhatsApp, add +44 7701 342 744 to your WhatsApp and send the Money Helper service’s national support team a message for help with sorting out your debts, credit questions and pensions guidance.
Webchat, chat to one of the Money Helper service team via their online portal.
Childcare
Credit union
Discounts and freebies
Simply Health cash plans
Simplyhealth offer a variety of health plans that allow you to look after your health and wellbeing before things turn into bigger and more expensive problems. They spread the cost of the treatment you might need to a regular monthly premium, starting from £10 a month. Simplyhealth cash plan offer access to a range of health services including online GP appointments, counselling and physio assessments and offer money back on dentist and opticians appointments. Simplyhealth Cash Plans include Cash back towards your healthcare costs, including sight tests, dental check ups, prescriptions, physio consultations, and much more. No need for a GP referral and you choose the practitioner you see. Free cover for up to four children. Access to a 24/7 GP and Counselling helpline. Simple online claims process with claims paid straight into your bank account.
VIVUP Salary sacrifice scheme
Sign up and get access to information and services to help improve your financial wellbeing, such as payroll pay, exclusive travel offers, debt advice and lifestyle savings.
Healthy Travel
The UHSussex Green Travel team supports staff to walk, cycle or use public transport to get to work.
You can benefit with discounts on bicycles, electric bikes, mopeds and cars, bus tickets and train travel.
On this page you can find healthy travel options that are better for you and our planet.
Cycling
Save up to 30% on a new bike and pay monthly
Our Cycle to Work scheme – run by Vivup – helps you save 22% to 30% off the a new traditional or electric bicycle and accessories up to the value of £6,000.
You pay for your new bike in monthly instalments, taken from your PAYE salary before tax every month. Visit www.vivupbenefits.co.uk/ and register as a UHSussex employee to see how much you could save.
Secure cycle stores
If you cycle to work, you can use your Trust ID swipe card to access secure bike stories at most of our hospitals.
New secure bike stores are also coming soon for Southlands and RSCH. For more information, please contact uhsussex.greentravel@nhs.net
Showers, lockers and changing facilities
There are changing areas and showers at each of our hospitals.
These can be located on the Green Travel hospital maps. The Green Travel team is looking to expand changing facilities for staff.
Dr Bike free maintenance for your bicycle
To support you to cycle to work, the Green Travel team invites Dr Bike to our hospitals to provide free services and puncture repair sessions. You can pre-book a 30-minute slot for a Dr Bike mechanic to check the safety of your bicycle and conduct minor repairs.
Dr Bike sessions coming soon
- Brighton – 24 March (check back soon for details)
For more details, please email uhsussex.greentravel@nhs.net
Green Ambassador cycling group
UHSussex Green Ambassadors champion environmental improvements across the trust. A dedicated cycling group promotes the interests of cyclists and suggests improvements.
To find out more, email uhsussex.green@nhs.net.
Public transport discounts and staff minibus
There are different options available, from membership of the easitNETWORK to discounts with various bus companies in Sussex.
Join the easitNETWORK
UHSussex staff can benefit from the trust being a corporate member easit scheme. Staff can buy an easit card for £5.05 and receive up to 15% on selected train services and 10% on some bus services.
Several local services are included:
Visit www.easit.org.uk to apply for an easit card.
Other benefits of the card include:
- 10% off cycling accessories in-store at Halfords
- Try before you buy – new bicycle loans
- 25% off Eco Move Smart electric mopeds
Brighton & Hove Buses annual network saver
You can save money with an annual network saver pass paid in monthly instalments taken direct from your salary.
For £69.17 a month (subject to change April 2022), you receive unlimited access to one of the best bus services in the country, covering a widespread area and including night buses.
New Staff who may wish to use the Brighton and Hove bus services or Metro Voyager Service (travelling to areas between Brighton and Sutton) can apply for a FREE 28-day saver ticket.
For more information, please email uhsussex.greentravel@nhs.net.
Up to the minute bus times are published at www.citytransport.org.uk/bus.html.
Metrobus annual commuter pass
Metrobus 272/271 bus service provides a commuting and inter-site service between Princess Royal and Royal Sussex County Hospital.
The 270 service runs from East Grinstead to the Princess Royal and to the Royal Sussex County.
An annual commuting bus pass costs £240, which can be deducted in monthly instalments from your salary.
The Metrobus annual commuter pass scheme allows you to travel anywhere between Cuckfield and Royal Sussex County Hospital using the 272/271/270 services.
Metrobus 272/271 Princess Royal to Royal Sussex pass
You can apply for a Metrobus inter-site keycard to travel between Royal Sussex County Hospital and Princess Royal Hospital on trust business.
Inter-site keycard holders can also make use of the 270 service, travelling between Princess Royal and Old Steine.
Stagecoach 700 south coast service – 10% discount
You can receive 10% off selected Stagecoach 700 bus passes.
The company runs a regular service along the south coast – Portsmouth – Chichester – Littlehampton – Worthing – Shoreham – Brighton (Old Steine).
Email uhsussex.greentravel@nhs.net for more details.
Southlands > Worthing > St Richard’s staff minibus
The Green Travel staff minibus is free to use by staff and runs regularly on weekdays.
Stops include:
- Southlands Hospital – main entrance
- Brooklands Park – park and ride
- Worthing Hospital – main entrance
- Fontwell Racecourse – park and ride
- St Richard’s Hospital – main entrance
Please access the StaffNet minibus page for information on the free to use staff minibus.
From 3rd May there will be a new bus timetable to cover the increase in demand for the park and ride sites at Fontwell, Brooklands and Southlands.
Please note, new park and ride locations for staff will be introduced soon.
Go electric
Drive a new electric car – salary sacrifice
NHS Fleet Solutions provided highly discounted lease-hire deals on new electric vehicles.
Visit https://nhsfleetsolutions.co.uk/ for the latest deals on EVs, hybrids and other vehicles. For staff at Brighton and Princess Royal hospitals, register using VPD number 379; staff at Worthing, St Richard’s and Southlands, register using VPD number 279.
Electric bikes
Cycle faster uphill with an electric bike – salary sacrifice. Save between 22% and 30% on the cost of an electric bicycle up to the value of £6,000. Visit www.vivupbenefits.co.uk/ and register as a UHSussex employee to see how much you could save.
Get 25% off an electric moped
Apply for an easit card and save 25% on the cost of an Eco Move Smart electric moped.
New electric vehicle charging points coming soon. More EV charging stations are being introduced at each of our hospitals. Check back soon for more details.
Become a Green Travel ambassador
If you would like to see and support more green travel at UHSussex, why not sign up to become a UHSussex Green Travel Ambassador by emailing uhsussex.green@nhs.net.
Parking
Visit the staff intranet or contact the transport bureau for more information about current parking arrangements for staff across all our sites: uhsussex.transport.bureau@nhs.net
Further transport contact information
Please contact uhsussex.transport.bureau@nhs.net. for more information relating to the above and help us in doing our bit to reduce our carbon footprint.
NHS People Leader support
Our NHS People have put together useful guides and resources to help you manage your own health and wellbeing whilst looking after others.
The NHS South East Leadership Academy offers leadership development opportunities for future and current leaders empowering you to create a truly inclusive and vibrant leadership community across the South East to deliver better health and care outcomes for our patients. Working with NHS organisations and systems in the region, they harness the talent and potential of all our workforce so we can collectively meet the objectives set out in the People Plan and the ambitions of the Long-Term Plan. Find out more about how they can support you, your team, your organisation and your system by visiting se.leadershipacademy.nhs.uk/
