Man and woman beside portrait of captain Tom

A new permanent staff wellbeing hub has opened at Queen Margaret Hospital in Dunfermline to provide a calming environment for staff to recharge away from busy hospital wards and departments.

During the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, a network of temporary staff hubs was established in healthcare sites across Fife. These hubs aimed to provide somewhere for staff to relax, get refreshments and take breaks away from their clinical areas.

Permanent wellbeing hubs are currently being developed at hospitals across Fife, with the new hub created at Queen Margaret Hospital the first to be completed. The creation of the new facility cost around £65,000, with funding provided jointly by the Fife Health Charity and NHS Charities Together, which was brought to prominence by the incredible fundraising efforts of the late Captain Sir Tom Moore.

Indeed, a painting of Captain Sir Tom Moore adorns the wall of the new facility. Gifted to the Fife Health Charity by local artist Jon Brown, the work depicts Captain Sir Tom Moore across various stages of his life. Artist Jon Brown was invited to the recent official opening of the wellbeing hub to see the unveiling of his incredible portrait in its new home.

Trustee of the Fife Health Charity, Sinead Braiden, said of the Hub’s opening:

“The last two years have been incredibly challenging for the NHS and healthcare staff deserve immense credit for their efforts to provide high quality care in the most difficult of circumstances.

“As the Board of Trustees, we wanted to acknowledge the dedication which continues to be shown by healthcare staff across the Kingdom. We hope that the new support hub at Queen Margaret, and others being developed elsewhere in Fife, will not only help provide welcome respite for staff, but also serve as a legacy of their incredible efforts throughout the most challenging period in the history of the NHS.”

On the painting by Jon Brown, Sinead Braiden, added:

“On behalf of the Fife Health Charity, I would like to express our gratitude to Jon for the gift of this outstanding piece of artwork. It is truly unique and takes pride of place within our wellbeing hub, where it will be enjoyed for many years to come.”

Issued:           22 June 2022