The Royal Free Charity exists to support patients, staff and researchers across the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust. By providing vital support services, and funding welfare programmes, medical equipment and research, the Royal Free Charity is able to make a profound and immediate difference to patients’ experiences of care. The volunteering, support hub, and complementary therapy teams enhance the hospital journey for all patients – whether they live locally or come from further away to access the trust’s specialist services.

The charity offers massage therapy to enhance the trust’s
care for its patients and support for its staff.

Known as “the treat” and not “the treatment”, massage is an
addition, not an alternative, to medical care

Research has shown that massage can reduce stress and
anxiety; it can help people cope better with the illnesses and uncertainties
they face and shorten the amount of time a patient needs to be in hospital.

Whether working with inpatients, outpatients, carers or
staff, therapists focus on looking after the whole person, rather than focusing
on a patient with a condition.

In 1992, one therapist, Keith Hunt, pioneered the offer of
massage to patients diagnosed with cancer at the Royal Free. From this he grew
a department and was awarded a MBE for outstanding services to complementary
therapy.

The department now serves patients in all disciplines and
has a team of paid staff.

Nickie Williamson became the complementary therapies
service’s lead in 2019. She co-ordinates a dedicated team which last year
delivered more than 17,000 visits to patients on the wards.

Patients and staff find comfort and support in the touch
offered and in the mental space created.

As a thank you to the trust’s staff for their remarkable
commitment, stamina and hard work throughout the pandemic, the massage team
established a short-term massage clinic dedicated to staff. More than 800
treatments were received by staff during the eight weeks we ran the clinic.