NHS Lanarkshire has unveiled its refreshed Staff Health and Wellbeing Strategy, Everyone Fit for the Future (2026–2029), marking a renewed commitment to supporting staff to feel valued and able to thrive at work.
The three-year strategy places wellbeing firmly at the heart of the organisation’s culture and delivery, recognising that a healthy workforce is essential to providing safe, effective and compassionate care for communities across Lanarkshire.
Approximately 15,000 staff deliver care to around 655,000 people across Lanarkshire, highlighting the critical importance of workforce wellbeing in sustaining high-quality services.
Jacqui Jones, Director of HR and Deputy Chief Executive – Corporate, Governance and Culture, said: “Our people are at the heart of everything we do, and their health and wellbeing is fundamental to delivering safe, effective and compassionate care. Everyone Fit for the Future reflects our continued commitment to creating a workplace where staff feel valued, supported and able to thrive.
“Building on the strong foundations we have developed in recent years, this strategy focuses on prevention, early intervention and improving access to support. We are taking a whole-person approach to wellbeing, supporting staff across mental, physical, financial, social and spiritual health, while continuing to strengthen a caring and compassionate culture aligned to our values.
“By working more closely across our services and embedding wellbeing into everyday practice, we are creating the conditions for a healthier, more resilient workforce for the future.”
Building on significant progress over the previous strategy period, the new approach adopts a whole-person approach to wellbeing, supporting staff across mental and emotional, physical, financial, social and spiritual health.
Over the past three years, NHS Lanarkshire has strengthened governance, expanded support services and improved engagement with staff wellbeing initiatives. This includes introducing data-driven approaches to identify trends, embedding wellbeing within staff induction programmes and increasing access to services through a single digital platform.
Lesley Mackay, Staff Health and Wellbeing, said: “Over the past three years, we’ve developed a more coordinated and accessible approach to supporting staff health and wellbeing, bringing together services such as Occupational Health, Staff Care, psychological support and health improvement into a more joined-up system.
“We’ve also made it easier for staff to access support, whether through our digital platform, workplace initiatives or targeted wellbeing campaigns, and strengthened how we use insight and feedback to shape what we do.
“This strategy builds on that progress by focusing on prevention, early support and making sure our services are accessible, inclusive and responsive to the needs of all staff.”
The strategy is delivered through a coordinated partnership of services, including Occupational Health, Staff Care, Psychological Services, Health Improvement and Learning and Organisational Development, working together as one integrated system to support staff wellbeing.
It is underpinned by strong governance, clear communication and visible leadership, ensuring wellbeing remains a core organisational priority.
By strengthening prevention and early intervention, the strategy aims to reduce sickness absence, support sustained attendance and build a more resilient workforce, while ensuring equitable access to support for all staff.
The launch of Everyone Fit for the Future signals NHS Lanarkshire’s ongoing commitment to embedding staff health and wellbeing into all aspects of organisational activity. By creating supportive working environments and empowering staff to take an active role in their own wellbeing, the organisation aims to build a resilient workforce equipped to meet future challenges and continue delivering compassionate care.
