Supporting NHS staff wellbeing: the value of workplace massage

Healthcare professionals spend their working days caring for others, often in physically and emotionally demanding environments. But how do organisations make sure their employees have opportunities to look after themselves too?

For NHS organisations, staff wellbeing is an ongoing priority. Long shifts, physically demanding roles, emotional pressures and changing workloads can all affect how employees feel, both physically and mentally.

Providing accessible workplace wellbeing initiatives can help employees take a moment for themselves, feel valued and make their wellbeing part of the working day.

One organisation recognising the value of this approach is Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust and it’s Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Charity, who has funded the free onsite massage for staff across three hospital sites.

Making wellbeing accessible to NHS employees

One of the challenges of delivering workplace wellbeing in a hospital environment is ensuring that opportunities are available to employees across different departments, roles and working patterns.

A wellbeing initiative that only operates during traditional office hours may exclude many of the people who could benefit from it.

This is why flexibility is so important.

Working with Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust and Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Charity, Hands On At Work delivers a regular programme of free 10-minute massages, with additional support for wellbeing events and specific teams when required.

The provision accommodates different working patterns, including evening and weekend requirements, helping more employees access the service.

The benefits of onsite workplace massage

Workplace massage provides employees with an opportunity to pause, relax and take a break from their usual responsibilities.

For staff working in physically demanding roles, massage can help address areas of tension and provide a welcome moment of relaxation.

Feedback from NHS employees taking part in the programme has included:

• Relief from stress-related neck tension.
• Feeling relaxed and less stressed.
• Help with neck discomfort.
• A positive impact on how employees feel during their working day.
• A welcome boost to team morale.

One employee commented:

“Had a big positive impact, made me feel much better, which improved my working.”

Another simply described the experience as a “Great morale boost!”

While workplace massage is not a replacement for medical treatment or wider occupational health support, it can be a valuable addition to an organisation’s overall wellbeing programme.

Measuring the impact of workplace wellbeing

The Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust programme demonstrates how a relatively short wellbeing intervention can reach a significant number of employees.

Between July and September 2025, 433 staff accessed the free 10-minute massage provision, funded by the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Charity.

With approximately 7,000 employees across the Trust, this represents 6.18% of the workforce in just three months.

The programme has capacity for up to 204 massages each month. During the three-month period, it achieved approximately 70.75% of its available appointment capacity.

Over a full 12-month period, the service could potentially reach up to 2,448 staff, representing almost 35% of the workforce.

These figures demonstrate the reach that can be achieved through a regular, well-organised and accessible workplace wellbeing initiative.

Why flexibility matters

No two workplaces are the same, and this is particularly true in healthcare.

With multiple sites, different shift patterns and teams facing changing demands, wellbeing support needs to be adaptable.

Hands On At Work works closely with the Trust and Charity to coordinate the regular massage programme, as well as respond to additional requests at short notice.

This has included supporting specific teams during periods of increased pressure, providing additional massage sessions at events and sourcing other holistic services, including sound baths and Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT).

The ability to adapt appointment times, locations and treatments helps ensure that the service meets the needs of the people using it.

It also means the Trust has one experienced provider coordinating its workplace wellbeing activities, helping make the process straightforward and efficient.

Creating a culture where staff wellbeing matters

Workplace wellbeing is about more than offering occasional activities. It is about creating opportunities for employees to feel supported and valued.

When organisations make time for staff wellbeing, they demonstrate that the people behind the service matter too.

The partnership with Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust and its Charity is a great example of how regular onsite support can become an important part of an organisation’s wider wellbeing approach.

For Hands On At Work, it is a privilege to support the people who work so hard to care for others.

How Hands On At Work can support your organisation

At Hands On At Work, we work with organisations to create workplace wellbeing programmes that reflect the needs of their employees.

From regular onsite workplace massage and reflexology to wellbeing events and tailored holistic sessions, we help businesses make employee wellbeing more accessible.

Whether you have one location or multiple sites, we can work with you to develop a flexible approach that fits around your workforce.

Want to explore how workplace massage could support your employees?

Email Chantall and Tina on info@handsonatwork.co.uk to find out more.