Members are being encouraged to invest in their physical and psychological health by subscribing to the Police Treatment Centres.
The Police Treatment Centres (PTC) provide rehabilitation to officers from Staffordshire Police for a subscription of £7.80 a month.
Most officers attending the centres receive intensive physiotherapy while others seek support with stress-related conditions or anxiety and depression.
The centres and their facilities are available to all serving Staffordshire Police officers, PCSOs, Special Constables and detention and custody officers and the injury or attendance at the PTC does not have to be linked to a work-related incident.
Federation branch secretary Glyn Pattinson said: “The Police Treatment Centres have a wealth of experience in helping officers get back to work.
“They have physiotherapy and psychological wellbeing programmes that are specifically designed and tailored for people working in the police service.
“Whether it’s treatment for a physical injury or it’s stress, depression, anxiety-related, for a small donation you’ll have the comfort of knowing the centres will be there for you not just to aid your return to work but also to improve and promote your overall health.”
He added: “What surprises me is that only one in three of our members are signed up to the PTC despite the fact that the support and treatment offered can not only get them healthy and fit again but also really make a difference in terms of improving people’s health and wellbeing, getting them back to work and avoiding them going on to reduced pay.
“I would urge any officer who is not subscribing to take a look at what the PTC provides and ask themselves if they can really afford not to subscribe.”
The Police Treatment Centres is a registered charity supported by voluntary donations from the police family.
Almost 4,000 serving and retired officers attend the two treatment centres in Harrogate, North Yorkshire and Auchterarder, Perthshire each year.
They include this Staffordshire Police officer, who joined the Force in 2019.
“I signed up to the Police Treatment Centres after hearing all about it at our Police Federation chat,” they said.
“In all honesty, it was not something I expected to have to utilise so early in my career, but these things happen.
“I injured my back in August 2020 and was left in a lot of pain and unable to carry out full operational duties once I returned to work after five weeks off.
“I attended the Police Treatment Centre in Harrogate for two weeks in November 2020 where I received physio every day, had access to swimming pools, the gym, amazing food, and fitness classes to help get my strength and confidence back.
“I was able to recuperate in beautiful surroundings with colleagues in similar situations from various forces and have fun while trying to get back to a better level of strength and fitness.
“We never know when things will happen and that’s why I feel it’s so important to make a financial investment into our health and wellbeing.
“Contributions made by officers allow these centres to offer the help and care we need in order to do our jobs when things go a bit wrong. I’m definitely pleased that I chose to make the contribution.”
Find out more on the Police Treatment Centres website.
If you want to subscribe, contact payroll by emailing melanie.willmott@staffordshire.pnn.police.uk
- Members can still access mental health and physiotherapy support virtually or remotely despite current lockdown restrictions and the temporary closure of the PTCs. Those currently on the wellbeing programme will hear from the nursing team with information on what support they will be given. They will also be offered access to the Thrive App, which is the only NHS approved mental health app available in the UK and can be used to manage stress and improve wellbeing. All those booked onto the residential physiotherapy programme will be contacted by the team and, if appropriate, offered remote treatment.
