A local MSP has called for greater efforts to protect the wellbeing of health and care workers dealing with the pandemic.
South Scotland MSP Brian Whittle used a debate in Holyrood to push the Scottish Government on improving the working conditions and workplaces of health and care staff.
Scottish Conservative Brian believes we need to do more to look after those who look after us, arguing that we can’t expect staff to look after our physical and mental health if they aren’t able to look after their own. Brian, who is the Scottish Conservatives’ spokesman on public health and wellbeing, says that even before Covid, levels of smoking, drinking and unhealthy weight among NHS staff were above average and that the stresses of dealing with the pandemic would only have made it harder for staff to look after themselves.
Among Brian’s proposals are guaranteeing a healthy, hot meal on every shift, access to greater mental health support and more resources to encourage a healthy lifestyle. He believes that without taking these steps now, the NHS will face serious challenges after the pandemic.
Brian Whittle MSP said:
“I’ve long argued that we have to do more to take care of those who take care of us. Health and care jobs can be enormously satisfying, but they can also involve long hours and stressful situations.
Our NHS and care workers have put in heroic efforts during the pandemic, but even when Covid is behind us, they’ll still face serious pressures. With so many NHS services having been reduced or suspended during the pandemic, staff will be faced with huge backlogs to try and clear.
Making it easier for those working in the health and care sector to look after their health and get the support they need when they need it, has to be a priority for the future of the NHS.”
