Staff wellbeing

Innovations to improve staff wellbeing were implemented in both countries in response to reports of high levels and exhaustion and stress amongst maternity care providers. In the NL, the KNOV COVID-19 taskforce stated that, while staff had initially been stimulated by the unique and pressing nature of the situation, as the crisis progressed they had become fatigued. Organisations in both countries produced manuals and strategies to prevent stress and to stimulate staff wellbeing. These included so-called ‘wobble rooms’ where staff could relax if they were feeling they could not cope during a shift, and broader policies, such as not to message colleagues after 6pm.