To ask the Minister of Health what steps he is taking to ensure the mental and physical wellbeing of frontline medical staff that have experienced increased stress, trauma or other illness due to their working environment of the past year.

Covid-19 has placed an enormous strain on our Health professionals within all sectors of the health care setting – they staff have played a vital role, and continue to do so, in dealing with the additional demands being placed on them. I have put on record my wholehearted appreciation for the significant contribution they have made during the pandemic.

My Department has worked alongside colleagues in the HSC to coordinate a comprehensive response to the psychological impact of the coronavirus pandemic, both in the immediate and longer term.

A Regional Staff Wellbeing Work stream was initiated in response to Covid-19, and has worked closely with colleagues within Mental Health services at the Health and Social Care Board, officials within my Department, and with colleagues in the PHA to build resources and support for staff.

In April 2020, I launched “Supporting the Well-being Needs of our Health and Social Care Staff during COVID-19: A Framework for Leaders and Managers”. The measures within the framework include a range of initiatives across organisations, which will support psychological well-being of staff, with an aim to preventing the development of mental health difficulties, including PTSD, in the aftermath of the pandemic, and to allowing early identification and intervention to be available in the aftermath period.

It is vitally important to ensure that all staff and volunteers, irrespective of where they work, have access to the information and support they may need over the coming months. In situations where specific individual help is needed, this is available through the Occupational Health arrangements in each Trust.

All HSC trusts have in place a variety of measures to support staff emotional health and wellbeing. These range from psychological support helplines, reading resources, videos, and mindfulness relaxation exercises, to opportunities to come together as teams, to reflect on the challenges and losses they have experienced, and continue to face, to the potential to seek individual support as required.