UNDER pressure hospital staff are being prescribed 'colouring therapy' in a bid to nourish their general wellbeing.

Bosses in charge of Furness General Hospital are encouraging doctors, nurses and all support staff to take ten minutes out of their day for some adult colouring in or simple origami.

The move is the latest installment in the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay's Flourish campaign which aims to keep staff fit, healthy and free from stress while they are at work.

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This week special packs have been handed out to staff at the Dalton Lane hospital providing colouring sheets, coloured pencils and paper folding sets.

Jackie Daniel, chief executive of UHMBT, the organisation that runs FGH, said mindfulness was not a new fad - but something that had been proven to help reduce physical and psychological stress over thousands of years.

Mrs Daniel added: "Nowadays, people lead busy lifestyles and sometimes achieving a healthy work life balance can be difficult.

"In some cases, this imbalance may cause people to feel stressed or anxious.

"Being mindful isn’t about just clearing your mind.

"It is about learning to be aware of your thoughts and feelings and how you deal with the ones that aren’t important or relevant to the moment."

It is hoped the mindfulness project will boost staff morale and reduce levels of long term staff sickness.

Earlier this year, UHMBT handed out wearable pedometers in a bid to get staff to walk the equivalent distance of a circuit of the earth.

Bottles of water and pieces of fruit were then given out over the summer to keep staff hydrated and eating well while sugary drinks were removed from vending machines on site.

David Walker, the trust's medical director, added: "Everyone, regardless of age, can benefit from being mindful so we are actively encouraging everyone, not just UHMBT staff, to give it a try.

"It can help some people who experience mental health problems, such as stress, anxiety and depression, but it’s also for those who simply want to improve their mental health and wellbeing."

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