Staff Survey Exposes Deep-Seated Issues
New ratings from the NHS staff survey have laid bare the scale of challenges facing England's hospital trusts, with significant numbers of employees reporting poor wellbeing, experiences of violence, and racism. The data, published by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), reveals that only 44% of staff feel their organisation takes positive action on health and wellbeing, while nearly one in four (24%) reported experiencing harassment, bullying, or abuse from patients, relatives, or the public in the past 12 months.
Racism and Discrimination Rife
The survey also highlighted persistent racism within the health service. Some 8% of staff from ethnic minority backgrounds said they had experienced discrimination at work in the last year, a figure that has remained stubbornly high. Overall, 6% of all staff reported experiencing discrimination from colleagues or managers. The CQC noted that trust ratings on equality, diversity, and inclusion varied widely, with some trusts performing significantly better than others.
Trust Ratings Vary Widely
The ratings, which cover 137 NHS trusts in England, use a traffic-light system to indicate performance across six key areas: safety, effectiveness, caring, responsiveness, leadership, and overall. Only 11 trusts received the highest rating of 'outstanding' overall, while 47 were rated 'requires improvement' and four were 'inadequate'. The remaining 75 were rated 'good'. Among the standout performers, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust were praised for strong leadership and staff morale.
Violence Against Staff a Growing Concern
According to the CQC, reports of physical violence against staff have increased, with 14% of staff saying they had experienced physical violence from patients or their families in the past 12 months, up from 12% the previous year. This has prompted calls for tougher measures to protect healthcare workers. Dr. Navina Evans, chief executive of Health Education England, said: "These figures are deeply concerning. No one should come to work fearing for their safety. We must do more to support staff and ensure they feel safe."
Wellbeing Initiatives Falling Short
Despite increased investment in staff wellbeing following the pandemic, the survey suggests many trusts are struggling to make a difference. Only 38% of staff said they felt able to take adequate breaks, and 29% reported feeling burnt out. The CQC's chief inspector of hospitals, Professor Ted Baker, said: "It is worrying that so many staff are still reporting poor wellbeing and burnout. Trusts need to prioritise the health of their workforce, not just for the sake of staff but for patient safety."
Regional Disparities Emerge
The ratings also revealed stark regional differences. Trusts in London and the South East generally performed better on staff wellbeing and diversity, while those in the North West and Midlands reported higher levels of violence and discrimination. For example, in the North West, 27% of staff reported harassment from patients, compared with 21% in London.
Government Response and Next Steps
The Department of Health and Social Care said it was committed to improving working conditions for NHS staff. A spokesperson said: "We have already introduced a number of measures, including a zero-tolerance approach to violence against staff and increased funding for mental health support. We will continue to work with trusts to address the issues raised in this survey." The CQC said it would use the ratings to target inspections and support for trusts that are underperforming.
