A new report from NHS Providers has highlighted a series of steps that have been taken by trusts from across the health sector that have positively impacted staff wellbeing and thus supported patient care.
The report shows how NHS trusts have taken onboard national data, local circumstances, and staff feedback to introduce targeted interventions for the workforce.
These include:
- Delivering a robust health and wellbeing strategy – Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
- Fostering supportive and inclusive cultures – Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust
- Providing access to professional psychological support – Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
- Creating a sense of belonging – Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
- Ensuring psychological safety – East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust
- Investing in adequate rest spaces – Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust
Improving staff wellbeing is something that requires a combined effort, according to Dr Lade Smith CBE, the president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, whose insight is included in the report.
"This report shows how this can be achieved.”
The report comes as data from the most recent NHS staff survey shows that nearly half of all staff usually feel worn out at the end of their shift, more than a third are burnt out, and just less than one in three often think about leaving the health service.
It is emphasised that the demands of working for the NHS have been “compounded” by a range of factors, including rising staff vacancies, resource squeezes, and an underfunded social care sector.
A combination of the pandemic, the cost of living crisis, and record amounts of industrial action have only made the situation worse for staff.
NHS Providers’ chief executive, Sir Julian Hartley, said in the foreword: “People are the backbone of the NHS, and trust leaders know that caring for their workforce enables them to care for others.”
“As NHS staff continue to tackle the extraordinary pressures they are facing and look to keep the service fit for the future, it is clear that a focus on wellbeing and experience at work will be key. With the right investment and focus, trusts will be able to ensure the NHS continues to be a great place to work.”
The report concludes that adequate funding, buy-in from senior leaders and continuous monitoring of progress are the key enablers of the initiatives featured.
To read the full report, click here.
Image credit: iStock
