St George’s Hospital has initiated Project Night Owl, aimed at enhancing the wellbeing of night-working NHS staff. This program is funded through the national Workforce Wellbeing Programme from NHS Charities Together. As part of the initiative, all employees at St George's Hospital can access a free three-month trial of the Timeshifter Shift Work app and the recruitment of Night Owl Champions is also underway.
Read More
The Timeshifter Shift Work app offers personalized, science-based guidance to help mitigate the sleep disruptions often experienced by shift workers. Users input their shifts and sleep preferences, including their chronotype, to receive a daily customized plan with simple reminders. The app is beneficial not only for night shifts but also for managing early and late shifts, as well as transitions between work and rest days. Users can register with either a work or personal email without needing a credit card, ensuring that their data is confidential and not shared with employers.
To assess the trial's effectiveness, participants will complete three short surveys over the trial period, with individual responses remaining anonymous. Those who find the app helpful can continue using it for an additional 12 months.
In addition to the app, there is a call for Night Owl Champions, who will provide peer support for night staff. These volunteers will serve as visible sources of wellbeing support, promote a positive wellbeing culture, and connect colleagues to wider health and wellbeing services.
Key responsibilities for Night Owl Champions include promoting Project Night Owl, being approachable during shifts, assisting colleagues in accessing wellbeing services, and organizing team wellbeing activities. They will also maintain confidentiality and share anonymized feedback about team needs with the Health and Wellbeing team.
Champions will receive approximately two hours per month to carry out their activities and will have access to a fund for team wellbeing initiatives. Interested employees are encouraged to seek approval from their line managers and can submit their interest through the designated form.
For any inquiries, employees can reach out to [email protected].