Relieving stress on the wards
PUBLIC administration in Northern Ireland has its problems with staff requirements and work load, but it is a quite bizarre development when a Buddhist monk is brought in to hold "happiness classes" for health service workers.
The monk, from a San Francisco centre, is to run workshops on how to achieve "contentment and calmness" for health staff in the Northern Trust area.
Bosses claim the monk uses his "mindfulness" practice to alleviate a variety of mental and physical conditions including stress and anxiety and they seek to justify the presence of doctors and nurses at these sessions.
Finance minister Sammy Wilson is not alone in being sceptical, indeed bemused, about the move and he questions the use of NHS property and staff time to organise the sessions.
Mr Wilson, insisting that public money should not be spent in this way, feels the trust has got its priorities wrong and, instead of engaging a monk from America, it should be seeking more doctors and nurses to help relieve the very intense pressure in hospital wards and care institutions.
Health minister Michael McGimpsey has so far not given a view on the proposed monk therapy on his ministerial watch and it will be interesting to know if he supports the decision?
Undoubtedly, frontline hospital staff face intense pressure in fulfilling their duties, but it is questionable that stepping outside the allotted theatres of employment to take advice from an unknown holy man will advance medical and nursing care in this province.
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Weather for Belfast
Tuesday 14 February 2012
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Temperature: 6 C to 9 C
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