SaTH Charity awarded £48,965 to deliver vital wellbeing support to NHS staff

20 November 2025

Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Charity (SaTH Charity) has been awarded £48,965 to establish and run a doctor-led menopause clinic for staff to support their wellbeing.

Thanks to the grant from NHS Charities Together and NHS England for the clinic, SaTH Charity will be able to provide crucial support to improve the wellbeing of staff at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH), both now and in the future,

The grant has been awarded as part of an £11 million programme – which includes a £5 million contribution from NHS England – and is one of 29 ambitious projects across England to receive funding to support NHS staff health and wellbeing.

NHS staff are the driving force behind our healthcare system, but they are currently working in some of the toughest conditions in history, with growing pressure from increased demand for health services and rising NHS vacancies.

Research from NHS Charities Together has highlighted that almost half (47%) of NHS staff surveyed said their job was affecting their mental health and 41% their physical health. That’s why projects such as this are more important now than ever.

Using the funding, SaTH Charity will establish the menopause clinic, which will ensure that staff have the support they need during perimenopause and menopause so they can continue to provide the best possible care for patients when it matters most.

Various stages of the support will be provided starting with access to recordings on general menopause information to provide awareness and understanding, followed by a group consultation led by Dr Jo Ritchie, Consultant Gynaecologist and Obstetrician.

Then if needed one-to-one appointments are arranged where there is an opportunity to see either a prescribing nurse, prescribing GP with a special interest in menopause and lifestyle medicine or a prescribing specialist consultant who can deal with more complex cases.

This group format allows staff to connect with colleagues who are having similar experiences, which helps to normalise the conversation and reduce isolation. For colleagues who require additional support, it will be followed up by a further private appointment.

Funding for the clinic comes after the Trust launched a comprehensive menopause support programme for staff which offers a holistic approach to tackling menopause symptoms and focuses on wellbeing.

Julia Clarke, Director of Public Participation at SaTH, said: “We are incredibly grateful to NHS Charities Together and NHS England for this funding. It is so important to have a happy and healthy workforce and to keep colleagues in the workplace.

“The menopause clinic will mean we can provide support to colleagues who may be struggling. It affects us all differently and we cannot underestimate how life changing it can be.”

Ellie Orton, CEO, NHS Charities Together, said: “Many NHS staff feel that theirs is the best job in the world, but these roles come with a tremendous responsibility for the lives they care for, and at a time of incredible pressure on health services, this takes a toll on their mental and physical wellbeing.

“In the face of so many wider healthcare challenges it can be easy to forget about healthcare staff, but it goes without saying that we need a healthy workforce if we want a thriving NHS that can give patients the care they need.

“This funding means NHS charities like SaTH Charity can help ensure NHS staff prioritise their own health and wellness with the same care they give to patients, and we are delighted we can support this important work.”

Caption: Menopause advocates Sam Hooper, left, and Janine Laming, right, with Dr Jo Ritchie, centre, at the first staff menopause clinic