Help is arriving for overworked NHS staff as a growing number of hospitals bring in sleep pods for doctors and nurses to grab power naps during their shifts.

Pods have been installed or are being trialled by a dozen hospitals in England. Royal Wolverhampton NHS trust was the first to try them, in June 2018. “Too many staff end up exhausted because they have long, busy, sometimes stressful shifts, often with little chance to grab a break because pressure on the NHS is so intense,” said Prof Steve Field, the trust’s chair.

Royal Wolverhampton has spent £17,000 to put one pod each in the A&E unit, doctors’ mess and maternity department at New Cross hospital and another in Cannock Chase hospital, which it also runs. It has also installed a recliner chair to give medics at the 850-bed New Cross site another option for some shuteye.

“We know that doctors provide better, safer care when they are fresh and alert. We have found [the pods] to be very popular with staff and also very effective in helping them get more rest,” said Field, a former GP.

Any health professionals – nurses, midwives, radiographers, physiotherapists – who need a break can use the pods, except for the one in the doctors’ mess which is only for medics still in training. “Staff now have places to go to get the rest they need on a 24/7 basis,” Field said. Read more

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