The results of the latest NHS staff survey for England show patients are at risk of receiving poor care due to persistent staff shortages.
The Royal College Of Nursing (RCN) highlighted the fact that the survey showed that only 21% of registered nurses and midwives said there were enough staff for them to do their jobs properly. This is down from 33% on the previous year. To compensate for short staffing, 67% of registered nurses and midwives are working unpaid hours to provide patients with the care they need.
The annual survey, carried out between September and November, invites everyone who works for the NHS in England to take part. It gives a snapshot in time of how staff are experiencing their working lives. The survey results show 53% of registered nurses and midwives felt unwell due to work-related stress and 41% felt burnt out because of work. Almost 59% said they continued to work despite feeling unwell.
RCN England Director Patricia Marquis said: “Nursing staff have sent a clear message they’re exhausted and that staff shortages are undermining their efforts to give safe and effective care. This is a stark reminder of the impact of tens of thousands of nursing vacancies."
Other headline figures included:
- Only 51.9% of staff were satisfied with the recognition they get for good work, a decline of more than 5 percentage points compared with 2020 (57.2%) and the lowest for five years.
- Only 42.1% were satisfied with the extent to which their organisation values their work, down around 6 percentage points from 2019/2020 (48.0%), and the lowest for five years.
- Only 27.2% of staff said there are enough staff at their organisation for them to do their job properly. This declined over 11 percentage points since last year (2020: 38.4%) and by over 16 percentage points among staff at ambulance Trusts.
- 46.5% say they feel worn out at the end of their working day/shift.
- 31.4% say they do not have enough energy for family and friends during leisure time.
To view the full results, click here.
