Griffith Base Hospital hosted its second annual Staff Week from Monday in a year where it has never been more needed. All Griffith Base staff including clinical, administration and maintenance have been encouraged to participate in seminars and workshops focused on nutrition, resilience and psychological safety.
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The mostly virtual event focused heavily on staff self care and well being after hospital staff have experienced unprecedented emotional and psychological stress in 2020.
Chair of the Griffith Base Staff Advisory Committee Fiona McKern who organises this event said that the staff have really enjoyed the week.
"It has been an opportunity to take the time needed to reflect on what we do and the impact we have," Mrs McKern said.
"This year more than ever we have needed to take the time to care for ourselves and support each other otherwise we cannot continue to bring our best selves to work."
It goes without saying that what hospital staff have had to endure this year has been devastating particularly, as Mrs McKern explained because mentally 'switching off' from work after a shift became challenging.
"Before COVID you would usually go home and leave work at work but not this year. We would all carry the emotion into our homes as well," Mrs McKern said.
"We were all so conscious of supporting our patients who were mostly alone because they were only allowed one visitor which has been very emotionally draining.
"This week we have had to look at if we want career longevity, we have to look after ourselves."
Griffith Base General Manager, Greg Brylski said that this year, staff at the hospital have basically 'lived together' through the pandemic and that there was now such a positive and encouraging force amongst the staff.
"We have loved all the positive feedback from the community in particular. We feel people are really behind us," Mr Brylski said.
Griffith primary schools were also invited to create works of art and write messages to the staff which have been on display all week in the hospital for everyone to enjoy.
Clinical Support Officer Kayla Bruton said that a number of primary schools jumped at the chance to send messages of praise and gratitude to health care workers which has had such an uplifting effect for the hospital.
"With the kids you can see it's just unbiased, heart felt appreciation," Mrs Bruton said.
"You can't walk past this space without smiling."
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