UHNM's Organisational Development (OD) department has held its first ‘Chill and Spill' group session at the Royal Stoke University Hospital to encourage men across the organisation to have open and informal conversations on a range of topics from self-care to mental health.

The session, which was attended by more than 40 members of the Royal Stoke's Estates workshop, marks a major milestone in the ongoing development of the UHNM Men's Health Group, which first launched in June 2023. The group was set up by James Harvey, organisational development trainer, who began his journey at UHNM as an apprentice in 2010.

Harvey said: ‘Our UHNM staff networks, including the Women's Network, were doing fantastic work but it became apparent that as an organisation we weren't championing men's health enough, and we could be doing more to support the health and wellbeing of our male colleagues.'

He added: ‘The aim of Chill and Spill is to create a safe and relaxed space for men at UHNM to simply talk, be that about serious issues or everyday life. We began to approach individual departments, and the estates team, being a male-dominated area, was a natural starting point, and with incredible support from their senior leadership the first session was a fantastic success attended by over 40 colleagues.

‘The reaction from the men in the room was overwhelming. The open format allowed everyone to contribute at their own pace, and we covered a wide range of topics, from suicide prevention to burnout and the emotional challenges of fatherhood. One colleague told us afterward how a topic we discussed brought up deep emotions he'd never shared before.'

Harvey is already planning further Chill and Spill sessions across other departments at Royal Stoke and County Hospital, Stafford, with interest in the sessions growing not just within UHNM but from neighbouring NHS trusts.

He said: ‘This is about creating a culture where men feel seen and supported. It's about all of us looking out for one another, making time for self-care, and promoting real connection. I want this to be the best men's health group in the NHS. We're just getting started, but we're already making a difference,' he added.