Our recent Thank You Week was our way of recognising and thanking our incredible staff for everything they have done to care for our patients and each other during a very challenging year. From Mr Motivator and West Ham United, police wellbeing dogs and special gifts, there was something for everyone to get involved with.

Our Chief Executive Tony Chambers said: “Our staff have done a simply amazing job caring for our communities during this very difficult time. Throughout the whole pandemic we have had to ask so much of them. They’ve covered extra shifts, worked in new areas, and have found innovative ways to keep services going.  I’ve been so impressed by their resilience and dedication. ”

“So I’m delighted we could host this week to express our thanks. We recognise how important it is that they take some time to look after themselves too. I am very pleased that one of the initiatives we have been able to offer is an extra day of annual leave. We’re calling it a ‘thank you day’ and we’re encouraging our staff to use it to focus on their wellbeing.”  

On top of an extra day off, we wanted to give our staff a way of spending quality with their loved ones. We have treated them to a BuyaGift voucher so they can choose from over 2,000 experiences to enjoy with a friend or family member as services reopen. As well as Trust staff, Mitie and Sodexo colleagues were included in this gift, recognising the huge contribution they have made.

Across the week, events to boost wellbeing were held at our hospitals and virtually. TV legend Mr Motivator hosted a virtual ‘get moving and motivated’ with a quick mood-boosting workout followed by a motivational talk – Lycra was optional!  There were plenty of other opportunities to get active too, including kickboxing, Pilates and yoga.

The Metropolitan Police’s East Area Basic Command Unit brought horses and wellbeing dog Dexter for a hugely popular animal therapy session. Our staff also enjoyed live music with performances including steel drums, African drumming and a gospel choir. And plus, West Ham United’s first team nutritionist held a webinar on healthy eating, tailored for busy NHS staff.

Free reflexology and sports massages were so popular they were fully booked. Those who wanted to take some time to unwind were also able to join a virtual meditation session.

During the week, our Executives were out and about working in different departments and wards. Our Deputy Chief Executive, Ben Morrin joined our porters at Queen’s Hospital who play an important role in keeping our hospitals running smoothly. Watch our video to find out more about his time with the team.

We’ve been delighted to see teams enjoying everything on offer during the week; you can watch all the best bits in our round-up video.