G534(P) Trust provided breakfast for all night staff in the children’s hospital

Aims Staff wellness is a fundamental pillar of the modern service. In the current climate, staff are under increasing stress with the potential to feel undervalued. The overarching aim of this project was to try to give something back to the work force to recognise the incredible service they provide. Methods Following a multi-disciplinary discussion, the option of a complimentary post night shift breakfast was trialled. We all acknowledging that post night shift staff can be tired, hungry, emotionally fatigued and stressed. This was available to all staff within RBHSC and not limited to medical or nursing staff. Promotion occurred in the form of posters, emails and word of mouth. Results An emailed survey was distributed to all staff to gain feedback with 49 responders. 79% were aware of the project was running with 93% strongly agreeing or agreeing that this was a great policy. 92% felt the addition of a snack would be beneficial. When questioned if this helped staff get home safe, 50% agreed or strongly agreed, 38% neutral and 12% disagreeing. In the free text box comments included; ‘I believe this would do some way of showing a caring work force they are cared for too’, ‘It’s lovely for staff to bump into others post night and chat/de-stress’, ‘Kindness is magic’ and ‘I think it is a lovely gesture to show that management are trying to support all staff working overnight’. The project started with offering a hot beverage and following feedback was extended to include water, fruit juice, light snacks as well as hot beverages. Conclusion The project was promoted on Twitter with excellent feedback and multiple re-tweets, generating a lot of positive dialogue. This project demonstrates how we can better look after our work force with small improvements aiming to improve morale, make staff feel more valued and prompting a positive culture in our work place. A key component was ensuring this was available to all staff who work nights, not just medical and nursing.