The healthcare organisation is also investing in upskilling efforts
The National University Health System (NUHS) has launched mental wellness services to help its 14,000 healthcare workers tackle issues like burnout.
Employees will have access to support services like counselling, a dedicated hotline and lunchtime talks on coping skills. There would also be training courses in areas such as self-care and clinics on how to handle a crisis, during and after the event.
The program is a collaboration between NUHS, the Healthcare Services Employees Union (HSEU) and NTUC subsidiaries.
NUHS recognises that as healthcare workers navigate their rapidly changing work environment in their delivery of care, it is often mentally and emotionally strenuous.
READ MORE: 9 tell-tale signs of employee burnout
This is why the HSEU partnered the Association of Psychotherapists and Counsellors Singapore (APACS), an NTUC U Associate, on a program to improve the mental well-being of healthcare workers while enabling them to focus on the complex and high-touch aspects of their work.
“The nurses’ job can be physically and emotionally demanding,” said Doreen Heng, assistant director of Nursing (Clinical) at Alexander Hospital. “We need to practise patience and empathy even when faced with challenging patients and situations.
“Raising awareness and accessibility of courses which promote and enhance mental wellbeing, helps us to prevent burnout and learn to handle stress.”
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Holistic upskilling programs
In addition to developing a mentally resilient workforce, NUHS also signed several memorandums of understanding (MOU) with the labour movement’s Healthcare Academy to help upskill employees and align with transformation efforts.
READ MORE: How to ensure a successful transformation
Through the formation of two Company Training Committees (CTCs), the Healthcare Academy together with the management of NUHS and NTUC Health will identify critical next steps in the push to upskill employees and equip them with industry 4.0 capabilities.
These include addressing skills gaps, developing mechanisms to help workers embrace change through intervention programs, implementing and reviewing the effectiveness of training program, as well as leveraging new L&D concepts such as micro-learning platforms.
“Today’s MOUs are very important to us as they are issues close to our heart,” said Professor John Eu-Li Wong, chief executive at NUHS. “The first is part of our efforts to enable our staff to work well into their 70s if they choose to do so, equipping them with the skills needed in a digital technological world.
“The second is part of our efforts at total workplace safety and health. The physical and mental health of our staff are critical if they are to care for our patients, support their care givers, educate our students, and develop solutions to the challenges we face. Investing in our staff is one of our highest priorities.”
Union leader at the HSEU, President K. Thanaletchimi, noted how the industry collaborative will help healthcare workers in the long run.
“The agreements inked today serve to support healthcare workers in a real and meaningful way, to help them reskill and upskill for the future,” she said.
“We are especially excited to work with NUHS and NTUC Health. Their commitment to work with us to roll out clear action plans to all their workers is truly commendable.
“On a similar note, our continued partnership with APACS reinforces the value we place in the welfare, particularly the mental well-being, of our healthcarers. This is critical especially in the changing world of healthcare.”