A special event held in appreciation of the work Accident and Emergency staff do, in often difficult circumstances, has taken place in Worksop's Bassetlaw Hospital.

The Rapid Relief Team (RRT) charity held a second A&E Appreciation Week at hospitals and clinics across the country, to give more than 10,000 A&E staff a well-deserved break and wellbeing boost.

This followed a new survey by the RRT about the thoughts of 2,063 UK adults on the UK’s A&E service.

It found that across the East Midlands region, 81 per cent agreed that A&E staff do not receive enough recognition for the work they do, 61 per cent would think twice about going to A&E this winter because of the pressure the NHS is under, and 80 per cent agree that A&E staff should be able to refuse to treat patients who are abusive.

Staff members at Bassetlaw District General Hospital take a well-earned break at an event recognising their challenging work.

placeholder image — Staff members at Bassetlaw District General Hospital take a well-earned break at an event recognising their challenging work.

At an event at Bassetlaw Hospital on October 15, RRT volunteers served 280 nurses with coffee and cake, giving teams the opportunity to pause, connect with colleagues, and feel appreciated for their vital work on the frontline.

Rod Paterson, RRT local team leader, said: “Considering how hard A&E staff work across the country, we don't think they always get the recognition and thanks they deserve.

“A&E Appreciation Week was designed to change this. It was amazing to meet staff at Bassetlaw and see first-hand how much they enjoyed a small gesture of a slice of cake and a cup of coffee."

Two-thirds of respondents in the survey said they would support an official national week to recognise A&E staff.

A&E staff at Bassetlaw Hospital enjoy a break at the RRT-funded event to thank them for their work.

Ross Norman, RRT UK head of operations, said: "A&E teams are there for all of us when things go wrong, and they’re doing it under huge pressure. It’s worrying that so many people now say they’d think twice about going to A&E, and that staff are still facing abuse while they’re trying to help.

“People feel A&E staff aren’t being thanked enough for what they do, and two thirds would back a national week to put that right.

“A coffee and a slice of cake won’t fix the pressures on the NHS, but it’s a chance for staff to stop for a few minutes and hear that people are grateful.

"We want to see A&E Appreciation Week officially recognised so that it happens every year.”