County A&E staff enjoy a moment’s relaxation

12:45pm Saturday 2nd February 2008

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ACCIDENT and emergency staff in Dorchester took a moment to de-stress themselves as part of a national campaign.

Nurses, doctors and support workers at Dorset County Hospital tried deep breathing and meditation as part of the Samaritans' 'stress down' day.

Event organiser and staff nurse Louise Beresford hoped the techniques would help her and colleagues cope with the strain of working in a busy department.

She said: "We've had a talk from one of the psychiatric nurses on stress-beating techniques and how to use them.

"These included deep breathing exercises, meditation, how to take time out of the day and knowing how to cope with stress, rather than allowing it to build up.

"The accident and emergency ward is a very busy environment, very stressful and there can be a high turnover of patients.

"It can also be quite an unpredictable environment to work in and that's one of the things that can cause such high stress levels among the staff."

Miss Beresford added that violence and verbal abuse from patients also added to feelings of stress in the workplace.

Directorate manager for emergency services Tess Drabble said: "For me, the techniques made me very much aware of my posture and how stressed and tensed my shoulders can become during the day.

"This can be an unpredictable department to work in.

"We do get some very busy days here and we do get some aggressive patients.

"It can all add to a feeling of stress."

Nurse Jo Hedges said: "It was really relaxing, which is something I think we could all do with here day to day.

"There are a combination of factors that can cause you stress while working here."

Around 15 emergency room nurses, five doctors plus support staff and managers took part in the event.

During the day participants also tried head massages, foot spas and Reiki healing, a complementary therapy thought by some to manipulate 'chi' or life force.