Free mindfulness on ‘Royal NHS’ for medics
PRINCE Charles’s ‘Royal NHS’ is offering free mindfulness sessions to healthcare workers on the coronavirus front line.
Online Zoom clinics to help doctors, nurses and care home workers affected by the crisis are being run from his Health and Wellbeing Centre at Dumfries House – the stately home near Cumnock, Ayrshire, that the prince saved for the nation in 2007.
The initiative, which started last week, has the full backing of Charles, who is in touch with staff at the facility every week. After being diagnosed with Covid-19 in March, the prince has said he wants to ‘join the chorus of thank yous’ to NHS staff across the country.
Workers can access live guided mindfulness and meditation sessions each week, specially tailored to address physical and mental stress.
Led by two mindfulness coaches, the two-hour classes also give them the chance to talk to other healthcare workers under similar pressures.
Dumfries House Health and Wellbeing Coordinator Shiona Johnstone, who organised the new eight-week course, part-funded by the People’s Postcode Lottery, said: ‘We were keen to help NHS and care home staff who have gone above and beyond for others during the pandemic.
‘We wanted to offer something they don’t already have access to via the NHS support services. During the Zoom sessions, we look at calming their minds, helping them manage stress and anxiety and show them techniques to relax.
‘These are people who are working at the centre of the pandemic every single day. It is a difficult time and for them to be able to keep going, they need to be able to take time to themselves.’