There is lack of access at work to free sanitary products, personal hygiene products and sleep aids for healthcare workers, especially after hours or if unexpectedly resting on site. This may adversely affect personal dignity, hygiene and ability to sleep comfortably, negatively impacting staff engagement, sense of being valued and belonging and workplace performance. More intense shift working and increased fatigue and need to clean after wearing PPE during the Covid-19 pandemic increased these challenges.

The Sanitary Products On Site (SOS) and Too Tired To Travel Home (T4H) boxes were established to meet these needs. Led by a junior doctor, they were piloted at three South East Wales acute hospitals, targeting junior and SAS doctors. All female doctor survey respondents felt that the pilot SOS box: was very useful; relieved concerns about being at work without sanitary products; and improves dignity, wellbeing and peace of mind at work. SOS box usage across a health board cost £0.33/week. T4H pilot survey respondents stated that personal hygiene products maintain dignity and wellbeing and improve their sense of being valued.

Expansion of the SOS and T4H box schemes in March-April 2020 in response to COVID-19 targeted all healthcare staff in Emergency Departments and/or Intensive Care Units at all acute hospitals and the new field hospital in Wales. Expansion involved recruiting individuals to site boxes in hospitals, fundraising and seeking box contents donations. Interim feedback was via user emails and social media.

The wellbeing box scheme expansion demonstrates that leadership can be flexible and delivered effectively via remote means. This involved expanding the Wales project, alongside empowering others to take a vision for positive change forward UK-wide. Leadership during a pandemic can be particularly powerful when meeting needs or channelling feelings of helplessness into purpose. Times of crisis provide momentum for positive change.