Please watch the latest video update from Nigel HERE

The past couple of months have forced us all to change the way we live. Lock down has limited the things we can and can't do. For those who have been asked to shield at home due to being in a high risk group and more vulnerable to coronavirus, life has changed drastically.

This month we spoke to two members of the BrisDoc team who have been shielding at home now along with their families for over 10 weeks. Both Tracy Hodge and Katherine Richardson share an insightful and honest view into what life has been like for them and many others who are shielding. 

Tracy Hodge is a Clinical Workforce Administrator in the BrisDoc Rota Team

• Watch Tracy's interview in full HERE

Katherine Richardson is a GP working in the SevernSide Weekday IUC Professional Line Service (formerly AGPT)

• Watch Katharine's interview in full HERE

At times like these, when the world feels upside down. Kindness can be the key to turning things around.

18-24 May marks Mental Health Awareness Week and this years theme is 'Kindness'.

Take a couple of moment to watch this short video from the Mental Health Foundation about this years theme - KINDNESS

Why kindness?  

We have chosen kindness because of its singular ability to unlock our shared humanity. Kindness strengthens relationships, develops community and deepens solidarity. It is a cornerstone of our individual and collective mental health. Wisdom from every culture across history recognises that kindness is something that all human beings need to experience and practise to be fully alive.  

Kindness and Mental Health  

Kindness is defined by doing something for yourself and others, motivated by genuine desire to make a positive difference.  We know from the research that kindness and our mental health are deeply connected. The research shows that kindness is an antidote to isolation and creates a sense of belonging. It helps reduce stress, brings a fresh perspective and deepens friendships. Kindness to ourselves can prevent shame from corroding our sense of identity and help boost our self-esteem.  Kindness can even improve feelings of confidence and optimism.

This month, many members of our team and people across the area that we serve will have been observing Ramadan. As with all things at the moment, Covid-19 has changed the way in which the Muslim community has experienced the Islamic holy month this year. We asked Hani Ghilan - BrisDoc's Budget & Accounts Manager to share his experience:

"The month of Ramadan began on the evening of Thursday 23 April and will end on the evening of Saturday 23 May. On 24 May we celebrate Eid for three days. Normally people then visit relatives, friends and sometimes graveyards to pray for those that have passed. Many people wear traditional clothes, give gifts or money to children, and donate to charity. In some countries, the holiday is known as Sweet Eid for its variety of sweets. 
 
Ramadan involves a daily period of fasting for Muslims starting at before sunrise and finishing at sunset for 30 days. This means abstaining from food, drink (including water) and smoking. While fasting is an important part of Ramadan, it is also a time of self-reflection and self-evaluation for Muslims.
 
We should also be aware of the health issues related to fasting, so that we are able to make informed choices, minimise complications and maximise the benefit of the fast as well as operational effectiveness. Those who are ill with COVID-19 will not be able to take part in daily fasting, as fasting is not compulsory nor advisable for anyone who is ill or has a medical condition. Also, as for many parents, working from home while your children are present, either if you have done so for years or for the first time, these circumstances are incredibly challenging.
 
This year will be very different (bizarre) as traditionally communal activities and prayer are observed and encouraged. Due to the current COVID-19 crisis, access to prayer externally (in Masjid) has been largely suspended. These restrictions may have a negative impact on Muslim wellbeing during an already difficult period. 
 
To recap, Ramadan can be a challenging time for Muslim employees and it may be especially challenging due to the pandemic. However, fasting is a commitment of the person's body and soul to the spirit of the fast; a spiritual self-purification. Through fasting, we work on acts of worship to help purify the soul, cleansing impurities and refocusing one's self of worship. 
 
Our best wishes for all health, wellness and blessings.
 
Hani

As part of our benefits package to employees, we run a cycle to work scheme. This scheme operates as a 'salary sacrifice' employee benefit. This means that you agree to give up part of your salary in exchange for a benefit – in this instance the benefit is a bike and/or accessories. The salary sacrifice is taken from your gross salary (before tax) which means that you will pay less Income Tax and National insurance.

The cycle to work scheme is, in the first instance, a 'hire scheme'. This means that you get to hire your bike and/or accessories tax efficiently and make a saving. There is an initial period of hire; usually 12 months from when you collect the bike, at the end of the Hire Period, you select an ownership option  (these depend on the scheme) and that's it... you're done.

To be eligible for the scheme you must receive your salary via the Pay As You Earn (PAYE)  ie employed and be aged 16 or over.
BrisDoc currently run a scheme via https://www.cyclescheme.co.uk/ and are currently setting up access to a second scheme www.cycle2work.info to give staff access to a wider pool of bikes.

If you are looking to improve your fitness, reduce your carbon footprint or reduce your public transport use and would like to participate in the cycle to work scheme please contact the workforce team via workforcesupport@brisdoc.org

This month, BrisDoc Medical Director - Dr Kathy Ryan was asked to be a guest on the Extreme Medicine Podcast hosted by Dr Will Duffin. The topic of this episode was the concepts of ‘fear based’ and ‘courage based’ medicine.

The podcast is largely aimed at a clinical audience but is a very interesting listen for all.

You can listen to the podcast HERE and will be available on all major podcasting platforms - search for: Extreme Medicine Podcast.

The government and NHS Digital have come to an agreement with many of the major internet service providers in the UK to support NHS front-line workers who are having problems working from home due to poor internet connections.

If you are working from home and regularly finding you have slow or patchy internet connection you may be eligible for a free boost in performance where possible during the Covid pandemic. 

All requests must be put through BrisDoc's IT Team who will collate the information and pass it on to the NHS Digital team to action.

If you feel you would benefit from this please fill out the requested details in the following spreadsheet - DOWNLOAD.

Once complete - send to digital@brisdoc.org

More information regarding eligibility can be found here

On the 12^th May 2020 Ecosia, a not for profit eco-friendly search engine (with 1.5 million users) launched their first UK based tree planting project partnering with The NHS Forest and Trees for Cities.

To help UK users show their appreciation for the incredible efforts of NHS key workers, Ecosia has partnered with The NHS Forest to launch #GrowYourLove, a long-term, forward-looking initiative to plant trees in and surrounding hospitals in the UK. There is a target of 2020 trees to be planted next season on healthcare estates.

In order to fund the trees, Ecosia will dedicate its revenues from searches made by UK users every Thursday for the rest of May. As well as supporting the project by searching with Ecosia, members of the public can also make donations directly to the project through the NHS Forest website.

Recognising that it is an incredibly tough time for many of us at the moment, NHS England and NHS Improvement have put together a suite of bereavement resources that aim to help NHS staff access support during what will be a difficult time, given the restrictions and changes to normal grieving patterns and processes for staff who come from diverse backgrounds. You can find a selection of resources that will support you during a bereavement, be that practical next steps to take as a line manager or confidential bereavement support staffed by a team of specialists.  You can access the bereavement support online or call the confidential bereavement support line, operated by Hospice UK, on 0300 303 4434, free to access from 8am – 8pm, seven days a week.​

BrisDoc's Community Fund received a letter of thanks this month from Grief Encounter South West, a charity who provide free, pioneering services and support to bereaved children, young people and their families.

The BrisDoc Community fund have supported the charity with a donation of £4000 which the charity tell us "has gone directly towards fixing our roof at the Centre where all our therapy sessions are held and the charity operates from in the South West.  Your donation means we don’t have to use our unrestricted funds that can now be used to support our families directly, especially during these uncertain times when anxiety and worries are higher at home during lockdown and our helpline is receiving a much higher volume of calls. We need to keep hold of as much money as possible for bereavement support to enable us to increase our levels post lockdown, as the Prime Minister has said that unfortunately the death rate is going to increase and we need to be ready to support all these families. Your donation as enabled us to do this so thank you."

You can visit the Grief Encounter website for more information -HERE

Visit the COVID-19 Staff Information Hub now