NHS workloads are stressing staff out
NHS workloads are stressing staff out
Overworked and overloaded health service workers are so stressed six out of 10 say they have considered packing in their jobs in the past year. A survey for health unions of just under 25,000 employees working throughout the NHS found that over half the staff questioned (57 per cent) were working more than their contracted hours and over four-fifths (84 per cent) said that their workload had increased in the last year. Almost two-thirds (65 per cent) of staff working more than their contracted hours were not getting paid for this extra work. Citing the reasons for their extra workload, over threequarters (77 per cent) blamed additional duties and responsibilities, nearly half (47 per cent) said it was down to insufficient sickness, maternity or holiday cover, and another 45 per cent identified vacancy freezes and redundancies as the cause. TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said 'recent recruitment freezes and redundancies are leaving health employees with bigger workloads and unpaid overtime is increasingly becoming the norm.' The survey - undertaken for NHS unions by Incomes Data Services - found that over half (54 per cent) the NHS staff questioned reported that their increased workload had lead to them experiencing increased levels of stress which was having a negative impact on their relationships with family and friends. Four in 10 of the staff (42 per cent) who had more work to do said the extra stress was also damaging their health. Nearly two-thirds (60 per cent) had considered leaving their job in the last year. Violence and harassment at work were also commonplace, with four in 10 (41 per cent) saying they had been the victims of violence or abuse in the past year. Nearly two-thirds (61 per cent) said they had been bullied or harassed by patients or patients' families.
Stay Updated
Want to hear about our latest news and blogs?
Sign up now to get it straight to your inbox