Saints becomes space for NHS nurses counselling group

At Saints, we’ve been trying our best to help people in our local community who have been impacted by coronavirus. Though we have been closed for normal opening, we have been able to host several essential support groups, as well as providing frozen meal hampers on many occasions for families and individuals who have hit hard times during the pandemic.

One of the groups of people who have been affected most by the virus have been our NHS workers, who have given an extraordinary amount of effort to save the lives of those struck down. We at Saints are so thankful to our local NHS workers for selflessly and continually serving the local community. However we are also aware that this pandemic has taken an incredible toll on healthcare workers.

Saints obtained funding to provide a weekly counselling group for nurses who work on the frontline in the Covid ward at George Elliot Hospital. The group, run by qualified counsellor Luke Webster, provides a safe space away from the hospital for nurses to share their experiences and receive support.

One attendee said:

"During the Covid 19 pandemic, working on the frontline has been challenging, exhausting and fearful. Trying to deal with these feelings has been a huge task in itself, without bringing into the equation of nursing patients with this vile, life-threatening virus (Covid 19).

However, the one shining light that has shone throughout has been the group counselling sessions that we have been offered by Saints. The counselling I feel has been extremely helpful in relation to being able to be away from the ward environment and being listened to by a counsellor who is impartial and just listens.

The fact that the counselling sessions are group sessions I feel really helps as we get to say things and release emotions that we would not in the work environment. We also get to know how the other staff are feeling and can offer support, as well as them offer us support.

I honestly think the counselling sessions have been a massive help, and for this I thank Saints, Jet Jones and Luke for their ongoing support."

We intend to continue supporting our local NHS workers in whatever way we can, and we thank them for the wonderful work they are doing in this critical time.