Samantha Wathen
@samanthajwathen.bsky.social
5.1K followers 650 following 690 posts
Press/Media Officer for Keep Our NHS Public and Operations for Frontline19. Occasional bylines on the NHS. Passionate about mental health support for HCPs. Once got to say Hold the front page. Own views, obvs.
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Reposted by Samantha Wathen
peterstefanovic.bsky.social
Please support the work of @frontline19.bsky.social if you can
frontline19.bsky.social
URGENT APPEAL on #WorldMentalHealthDay2025

We've supported a million frontline workers, helping save at least 77 from suicide. Our funds are very low & we urgently need your help to meet rising demand this winter.

Please consider donating to our Crowdfunder
👇
www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-suppo...
samanthajwathen.bsky.social
In his newsletter today about the frankly ridiculous decision to withdraw free COVID vaccines to NHS workers:

"It's also a matter of respect. After some recent brutal years, NHS staff deserve more than a pat on the back and a bill for their own jab."

Well bloody said, @roylilley1.bsky.social 🙌
samanthajwathen.bsky.social
Absolutely love to see it. Keep going 💚
bradfordgreens.bsky.social
" @zackpolanski.bsky.social is a sort of raving communist, really"

The right-wing media are losing their minds as the Green Surge continues.

Join us > Join.greenparty.org.uk
samanthajwathen.bsky.social
Will never forget a campaigning meeting I had years ago with a young female Tory (they do exist) in which she said with no hint of humour how she'd queued outside party conference to catch a glimpse of Michael Gove.

When this ex-teacher raised an eyebrow she said "But it was MICHAEL GOVE!!"
samanthajwathen.bsky.social
Aghh, clearly I meant 2020-1.
samanthajwathen.bsky.social
I just can't even on this one.

HCPs have NO CHOICE over whether to be exposed to Covid.

Those on lower incomes will struggle to afford the c£100 for private vaccine and they shouldn't have to do so.

We lost over 1,000 workers 2020-1.

This is both stupid & insulting.
www.bmj.com/content/391/...
Covid-19: Excluding doctors from vaccination programme puts patients at risk, clinicians warn
Doctors have warned that the government’s decision to exclude health and social care workers from its covid vaccination programme is putting patients at risk and will have a major impact on an overstr...
www.bmj.com
samanthajwathen.bsky.social
I just can't even on this one.

HCPs have NO CHOICE over whether to be exposed to Covid.

Those on lower incomes will struggle to afford the c£100 for private vaccine - and they shouldn't have to do so

We lost over 1,000 workers 2010-1. This is both stupid & insulting.
www.bmj.com/content/391/...
Covid-19: Excluding doctors from vaccination programme puts patients at risk, clinicians warn
Doctors have warned that the government’s decision to exclude health and social care workers from its covid vaccination programme is putting patients at risk and will have a major impact on an overstr...
www.bmj.com
samanthajwathen.bsky.social
What is going on? Does he want everyone to die of a preventable disease?? I just don't understand it.
Reposted by Samantha Wathen
cindyjurie.bsky.social
It’s not making America healthy again if they’re doing away with the MMWR team.

These are the folks that help keep us safe by sharing early alerts re disease spread,

Of all the asininely stupid health moves to make, this one gets the prize.
covid19disease.bsky.social
BREAKING: A Friday night massacre is reportedly underway at the CDC. Dozens of “disease detectives,” senior scientists, the entire Washington staff, and editors of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) have been RIFed and issued termination notices.
samanthajwathen.bsky.social
Ooh, I had one of those! Had forgotten!
samanthajwathen.bsky.social
The words politicians use matter, and they have an affect.

NHS staff are real people with real feelings and we desperately need them.

Sad that - especially after Covid - this still needs pointing out.

Shame on those that bully instead of taking the time to understand the situation properly.
drstevetaylor.bsky.social
In 30years I have never been this upset with the words coming out of Government

This includes a plethora of Tory Health Secretaries

I am not part of BMA leadership

I am just a GP who gives up his time freely to advocate for patients, the NHS & make sure the facts are correct
samanthajwathen.bsky.social
Ah, my old friends at the IEA.
A particular career highlight will always be calling them out in an op-ed that went viral - then being featured in their report.

Well done @zackpolanski.bsky.social for calling them out. Common sense wins again, and this time I really think the public are listening.
Reposted by Samantha Wathen
frontline19.bsky.social
URGENT APPEAL on #WorldMentalHealthDay2025

We've supported a million frontline workers, helping save at least 77 from suicide. Our funds are very low & we urgently need your help to meet rising demand this winter.

Please consider donating to our Crowdfunder
👇
www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-suppo...
samanthajwathen.bsky.social
I'm SO proud of what we've achieved @frontline19.bsky.social, and the numbers often floor me.

1M workers supported & at least 77 saved from suicide with our help, but we urgently need funds to meet the rising demand.

Can you support our NHS staff this season?
www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-suppo...
Help support NHS Staff this Winter: Urgent Appeal
We have supported NHS staff with their mental health for nearly 6 years - but we urgently need your help to meet the rising demand.
www.crowdfunder.co.uk
Reposted by Samantha Wathen
cathobbs.bsky.social
We Own It is hiring!

⭐Operations Lead, 2.5 days a week, to keep our organisation running smoothly

⭐Communications and Campaign Support, 3 days a week, to get the message out and support campaigns

Join our team and win public services for people not profit! ✊

weownit.org.uk/about-us/vac...
Work with us
weownit.org.uk
Reposted by Samantha Wathen
bma.org.uk
Did you know?

Our free and confidential 24/7 counselling line and peer support service are open to all UK doctors and medical students.

On #WorldMentalHealthDay, share this information with your friends and colleagues across medicine. @bmawellbeing.bsky.social
www.bma.org.uk/advice-and-s...
Wellbeing support services
Counselling
Peer support
0330 123 1245
Reposted by Samantha Wathen
ucu.org.uk
‼️NEW: Universities have tried to axe over 15,000 staff this year.

Yet the vice-chancellors responsible are paying themselves more than ever before.

We’re balloting to save higher education.

Our GS @drjogrady.bsky.social broke the story on BBC Today this morning👇
Reposted by Samantha Wathen
frontline19.bsky.social
Today on #WorldMentalHealthDay we mark a pivotal step forward in our mission to support the mental health of the UK’s healthcare workforce.

We are proud to announce a new partnership with The Laura Hyde Foundation, backed by a significant grant to strengthen and expand our vital services.🧵 #WMHD
samanthajwathen.bsky.social
Proud - in nearly a decade of being a press officer for a national campaign - to have always turned down requests from these people.

Declining Jacob Rees-Mogg was a particular career highlight.
stopfundinghate.bsky.social
Amid a global misinformation crisis, where toxic messages can spread to millions within hours, Britain urgently needs a regulator that is willing and able to act robustly & with speed.

Ofcom seems painfully ill-equipped to do the job it has been tasked with /9 www.heraldscotland.com/news/2478423...
GB News accused of operating 'anti-Muslim hate channel'
Former First Minister Humza Yousaf has been cited in a report which accuses GB News of running an 'anti-Muslim hate channel'
www.heraldscotland.com
Reposted by Samantha Wathen
zackpolanski.bsky.social
Nearly 3000 new members in the 24 hours since the Party Political Broadcast.

Extraordinary.

Hope is returning. 💚🚀

Join.greenparty.org.uk
samanthajwathen.bsky.social
I've said it before and I'll say it again. It's mindboggling how a leading UK uni with hundreds of millions of £ in reserve has axed whole depts and made world experts redundant whilst opening a site in (checks notes) Kazakhstan, paying to fly their remaining staff in & out.

Batsh*t isn't the word
cardiffucu.bsky.social
Cardiff University Kazakhstan featuring on BBC Wales Today, with contribution from Cardiff UCU's @llantwit.bsky.social