CALMA meditation course

16 SEPTEMBER 2026

York & Scarborough Hospitals Charity supported five members of the Acute Oncology Team at York Hospital, to be able to attend a meditation and mindfulness course designed to support both personal wellbeing and patient care.

The course provided practical tools and techniques to help staff incorporate mindfulness into their everyday lives and professional practice. Key themes included empowerment, self-belief, and developing strategies to remain calm and focused when working in demanding clinical environments.

For Gemma Anderson, Acute Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist, the course offered valuable insights into protecting wellbeing while continuing to provide compassionate care for patients facing challenging circumstances.

“I couldn't believe putting one hour of our time aside each week for meditation could be such an effective way of managing everyday stresses. It helped to promote a calmer, relaxed approach to life.

“I learnt how to protect my peace, and it made me understand that I don’t have to respond immediately to non-urgent tasks both at work and at home.  There was a wonderful quote that has stayed with me, “When you are mediating, thoughts of past and future come into your mind.”

“Calma gave me a safe space for those thoughts ‘to wait, just for a while.’ Life is so busy and we never just stop and give ourselves permission to be in the present.”

The training has also influenced how Gemma supports patients. Collaborating closely with people receiving palliative care, she meets individuals and families coping with uncertainty and emotional distress. The course highlighted techniques such as breathwork and grounding exercises, as well as understanding signposting to resources available through the Trust’s Clinical Psychology Team.