Creating compassionate cultures to support compassionate care: Lessons from the Welsh NHS.

This article focuses on initiatives within the Welsh National Health Service (NHS) to create compassionate organisational cultures that support staff wellbeing and, consequently, compassionate care delivery. It highlights approaches developed by Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (ABUHB), including leadership programmes, Schwartz Rounds, Taking Care Giving Care rounds, and psychosocial frameworks like the Employee Experience Framework, all aimed at improving psychological safety and staff engagement. The article also describes national collaborations across health, social care, and education sectors in Wales, supported by devolved governance and legislation such as the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act, which have facilitated innovation in compassionate leadership and workforce wellbeing. Evaluations suggest these systemic, psychologically informed interventions contribute to sustaining NHS staff wellbeing and improving care quality amid ongoing pressures.