Healthcare platform Florence has partnered with the Healthcare Workers' Foundation to support the charity’s mission to provide hardship grants to care workers.
A recent Florence study of over 1,000 social care and health workers found that two thirds are having to choose between food and fuel to combat rising energy bills. Seventy nine per cent of healthcare professionals say the rising cost of living is negatively impacting their mental health, and over half have had to take time off to recover from stress and burnout.
In addition, meteoric rises on energy bills and inflation are having a widespread impact on low income care workers.
Dr. Charles Armitage, Florence CEO and founder, said: “It is completely inadmissible that frontline nurses and healthcare staff are choosing between food and fuel. The cost-of-living crisis is having an unforeseen impact on those on low income, and nobody shouldn’t have the right to basic necessities, whether food, fuel, housing or otherwise.
“We’re proud to be partnering with the Healthcare Workers' Foundation to provide support by encouraging our network to donate, whatever possible, to this important cause. We’re heading into a tough winter and it’s vital we take greater care of our NHS workforce. The cost-of-living crisis is a pandemic level crisis, and not only will our workforce personally suffer, but the healthcare service overall will face intolerable pressure, at a time when it’s already on the brink of collapse.”
Julie Child, Healthcare Workers’ Foundation chief executive, added: “We hear from those we support just how bad things are right now and will only get worse.
“Because of the cost-of-living crisis, healthcare employees are not only coping with increased pressure at work but also an increase in financial demands at home. Budgeting can only go so far in addressing these issues. Our support initiative aims to lessen some of the possible financial hardships many members of the healthcare workforce may be facing. After all, everyone benefits from a good healthcare system!”
