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Western Telegraph
23-04-2025
- Health
- Western Telegraph
NHS staff fatigue factor in patient harm and deserves urgent attention
Excessive workloads, long shifts of 12 hours or more and inadequate breaks are among the factors contributing to staff fatigue, according to the Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB). Medication errors, impaired decision-making, reduced attention or vigilance, and rude or disrespectful behaviour by workers are the most common consequences, its report said. The patient safety body warned that fatigue 'contributes directly and indirectly to patient harm' but said there is 'little evidence' to help understand the size and scale of the risk as it called for a review to help capture the related data. Fatigue is more than just being tired - it can significantly impair decision-making, motor skills and alertness Saskia Fursland, HSSIB Examples of patient safety issues heard by HSSIB investigators included one staff member who failed to perform a pregnancy scan accurately, which they felt contributed to safety issues for the mother and baby at birth. The probe heard the member of staff had a health condition and had not slept well, but this was worsened by staffing issues and a high workload. Fatigue 'was not considered as part of the safety event learning and that they were not involved in the investigation', according to the worker. Another example was of a young patient given the wrong chemotherapy infusion. The HSSIB heard the two members of staff who checked the medication were almost nine hours into a 12-and-a-half-hour shift and a trust investigation found that fatigue was 'likely to have been a factor'. Staff fatigue is not routinely captured as part of patient safety event reporting or routinely considered as part of patient safety event learning, the HSSIB report said. It also highlights that there are no specific questions about fatigue in the NHS Staff Survey, which includes responses from more than 700,000 workers. Awareness of the risks that staff fatigue poses to patient safety is beginning to grow within healthcare, but our investigation found that understanding remains inconsistent and fragmented Saskia Fursland, HSSIB However, in the 2024 poll, two in five staff reported feeling worn out by the end of a shift, while one in five said every waking hour is tiring. The issue is also impacting staff safety, with some exhausted staff involved in fatal car accidents or near misses while driving home from a shift, the HSSIB said. The report claims staff are fatigued for a variety of reasons, such as excessive workloads, long shifts, not enough rest time and inadequate breaks. There were also personal factors such as menopause, pregnancy and religious practices, as well as lower-paid staff picking up extra shifts or an additional job to make ends meet. The HSSIB warned fatigue is perceived by trusts and staff as an 'individual risk, with limited organisational accountability', leading to a 'blame culture'. Saskia Fursland, senior safety investigator at the HSSIB, said: 'Fatigue is more than just being tired – it can significantly impair decision-making, motor skills and alertness. 'We must move away from viewing fatigue as an individual issue and putting the onus on personal responsibility and instead treat it as a system-level risk that deserves urgent attention.' The probe also found that there are 'barriers' to understanding the risks posed by fatigue, including the 'norms' around working long hours in the health service. As the NHS prepares for reform, the report underscores the need for strong, unified action to protect both patients and healthcare professionals from the risks associated with fatigue Saskia Fursland, HSSIB It said some staff 'spoke of deeply entrenched and historical beliefs where working long hours was seen as a 'badge of pride', particularly among senior staff'. Others told HSSIB investigators 'that it was seen positively for staff to stay beyond their contract hours and that it was sometimes actively encouraged by healthcare organisations'. Organisations also have 'limited ability' to address these risks amid constraints to the workforce and finances, the report added. The HSSIB recommends that NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care should review processes to help capture data related to staff fatigue in order to understand risks and inform the development of a future strategy to tackle the issue. Ms Fursland added: 'Awareness of the risks that staff fatigue poses to patient safety is beginning to grow within healthcare, but our investigation found that understanding remains inconsistent and fragmented. 'This challenge is further compounded by limited data and the absence of co-ordinated national oversight – factors that significantly hinder effective risk management. 'As the NHS prepares for reform, the report underscores the need for strong, unified action to protect both patients and healthcare professionals from the risks associated with fatigue.' Steps to protect and enhance staff wellbeing and reduce the risk of fatigue must be a priority at every level Saffron Cordery, NHS Providers Responding to the report, Patricia Marquis, executive director of the Royal College of England, said it 'lays bare the daily reality for nursing staff'. 'They are overstretched, understaffed and regularly work beyond their hours caring for too many patients,' she added. 'This drives dangerous levels of fatigue which not only harms patients but also follows staff home, with sometimes devastating consequences. 'Nursing fatigue is deadly and in health and care services should be treated as a public safety emergency.' An NHS spokesperson said: 'NHS staff are working incredibly hard to meet rising demand for care, but we know that this can take a toll on their wellbeing and we're committed to tackling burnout by ensuring staff get the support they need, so they can continue to provide safe and effective care for patients. 'Staff should always feel confident to report patient safety concerns, including those that are linked to fatigue, and we will work with local NHS systems to address any issues – while there is more we could and should do, the NHS is offering more flexible working options than ever before, and there is a range of mental health support available for staff, including access to wellbeing resources.' Saffron Cordery, interim chief executive of NHS Providers, added: 'Steps to protect and enhance staff wellbeing and reduce the risk of fatigue must be a priority at every level, and HSSIB is right to highlight the potential risks associated with staff fatigue in implementing national initiatives on workforce challenges and care delays.' A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said the Government 'inherited a broken NHS with an overworked, demoralised workforce' and the report 'highlights the profound consequences this can have for patients and staff alike'.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Hospital trust among worst to work for
A trust which runs hospitals in North Yorkshire has been ranked by its staff as one of the worst in England to work in. The York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust came in the bottom five when staff were asked if they would recommend working there in a national survey conducted last autumn. The NHS Staff Survey looked at the experiences of 700,000 employees throughout England's 215 trusts in 2024. The trust said the results "do not reflect where we want to be" and mirrored the "hugely challenging environment we are working in". It was ranked the lowest in the North East and Yorkshire region, with only 45% of staff "agreeing" or "strongly agreeing" they would recommend it as a place to work, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Speaking at a meeting of North Yorkshire Council's Scarborough and Whitby Committee, Councillor Rich Maw said: "I'd like to spare a thought for our dedicated local NHS staff doing their best to care for us all, despite the difficulties they endure. "The Health Service Journal has analysed the full results of the 2024 NHS Staff Survey and the York and Scarborough NHS Trust was one of the worst performers nationally." Scarborough and Whitby MP Alison Hume said: "The staff do such a wonderful job and work so hard for all of us, that it is disappointing that the working conditions they're reporting aren't good enough." The trust runs hospitals across North Yorkshire in York, Scarborough, Selby and Malton and also Bridlington Hospital in East Yorkshire. The chief executive of the York and Scarborough NHS Trust, Simon Morritt, said the message from colleagues was "loud and clear that we have a long way to go". "The overall response rate of 36% means we are not hearing from almost two-thirds of our staff," he added. "We have also seen a decline in our overall engagement score, and the extent to which colleagues would recommend our trust as a place to work and to receive treatment. "The responses also suggest that people are not confident they can influence improvement or drive change." Mr Morritt, who described the results as disappointing, said solutions would not arrive in the form of significant new investment in services or workforce and that a "fundamental shift in our thinking" was needed towards "how we use what we already have". Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
BBC News
25-03-2025
- Health
- BBC News
York and Scarborough NHS Trust among worst to work for
A trust which runs hospitals in North Yorkshire has been ranked by its staff as one of the worst in England to work York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust came in the bottom five when staff were asked if they would recommend working there in a national survey conducted last NHS Staff Survey looked at the experiences of 700,000 employees throughout England's 215 trusts in trust said the results "do not reflect where we want to be" and mirrored the "hugely challenging environment we are working in". It was ranked the lowest in the North East and Yorkshire region, with only 45% of staff "agreeing" or "strongly agreeing" they would recommend it as a place to work, according to the Local Democracy Reporting at a meeting of North Yorkshire Council's Scarborough and Whitby Committee, Councillor Rich Maw said: "I'd like to spare a thought for our dedicated local NHS staff doing their best to care for us all, despite the difficulties they endure."The Health Service Journal has analysed the full results of the 2024 NHS Staff Survey and the York and Scarborough NHS Trust was one of the worst performers nationally."Scarborough and Whitby MP Alison Hume said: "The staff do such a wonderful job and work so hard for all of us, that it is disappointing that the working conditions they're reporting aren't good enough."The trust runs hospitals across North Yorkshire in York, Scarborough, Selby and Malton and also Bridlington Hospital in East Yorkshire. The chief executive of the York and Scarborough NHS Trust, Simon Morritt, said the message from colleagues was "loud and clear that we have a long way to go"."The overall response rate of 36% means we are not hearing from almost two-thirds of our staff," he added."We have also seen a decline in our overall engagement score, and the extent to which colleagues would recommend our trust as a place to work and to receive treatment."The responses also suggest that people are not confident they can influence improvement or drive change."Mr Morritt, who described the results as disappointing, said solutions would not arrive in the form of significant new investment in services or workforce and that a "fundamental shift in our thinking" was needed towards "how we use what we already have". Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Staff at Hampshire Hospitals see improved morale and engagement
Staff at Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust have reported improved morale and engagement. The results are from the most recent national NHS Staff Survey. The survey, which is conducted annually, invites every NHS staff member to share their experiences. In the 2024 survey, Hampshire Hospitals, which operates hospitals in Andover, Basingstoke, and Winchester, improved its score in eight of the nine People Promise theme areas. The trust also saw a statistically significant improvement in engagement and morale. Alex Whitfield, chief executive at Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: "Over 4,000 of our colleagues shared their thoughts and experiences of working at Hampshire Hospitals. "These insights are so valuable in ensuring we're creating a workplace where people can thrive, feel valued, and well-supported. "There are real positives in the feedback we've received this year, and it's been encouraging to see strong improvements across so many of the People Promise themes, as well as engagement and morale more generally." The full NHS staff survey results can be found at
BBC News
15-03-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Stress, burnout and hope: NHS workers in London speak out
"You have moments when you're human and feel overwhelmed. My way of coping is to take a deep breath, and if I have a chance, go for a 30-second break outside, come back in, then smile again."Cielito Canejo is a specialist respiratory practitioner. Like many of her NHS colleagues in London, she experiences times of pressure and stress at work. The Covid-19 pandemic caused her to reflect more on her mental well-being."The silver lining of the pandemic was that it raised awareness of mental health. For me personally, I no longer felt there was a stigma around it."While the pandemic is long over, the pressures on the NHS remain. Ms Canejo says she worries about the mental health of her colleagues across the sector. The latest NHS Staff Survey, published on 13 March, has ranked London as the second worst region in England for morale and burnout (behind the East of England) - with a third of the capital's health workers saying they "often or always" feel burnt out because of the job. London also scored worst in the category of "work pressure", with three quarters saying they experienced unrealistic time pressures in their the NHS, millions of workdays are lost each year due to mental health issues with workload, psychological distress and the pandemic's impact being blamed."We worked through the pandemic, serving the nation, and we've had no recovery," says Dr Chaand Nagpaul, a north London GP. "And since then, we've had to deal with the biggest backlog of care in the NHS. "The number of patients needing to be seen far outweighs our capacity. This is a recipe for creating stress and burnout." He says his GP surgery is in an area with one of the lowest doctor-to-patient ratios in the country. Dr Nagpaul adds that the capital has pockets of deprivation where health issues are more common. In addition, he says, compared with some other parts of the country, London GPs need more time, in order to provide care for patients who may have English as a second language and for asylum-seekers who may need more help with experiences of Nagpaul co-chairs the charity Doctors in Distress. It offers support groups and this year is holding an urgent fundraising appeal to help meet demand. Within the NHS, various services are offered to try to help staff with their mental health. For example, London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust runs an in-house psychology service and offers on-site exercise sessions. It also brings support directly to staff in the form of a tea trolley."We go around with a 'well-being trolley'", says Aderemi Shoyebo, "bringing teas and coffees to staff who otherwise might not get a chance for a break. "We use it as an opportunity to find out if there's anything they need help with and signpost them to support services." 'Toll on wellbeing' For Ms Canejo, what helped was journalling, and becoming a mental health first aid instructor. Through helping others' mental well-being, she found it rewarding to her NHS London spokesperson said NHS staff were working "incredibly hard to meet rising demand and care for more patients than ever before, and we know this can take a toll on wellbeing". "While there is more to do, the NHS is fully committed to ensuring staff get the support they need, and the health service is now offering more flexible working options than ever before, as well as a range of mental health support available for staff, including access to coaching and wellbeing resources."A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson added: "NHS staff have been overworked for years. "Through our Plan for Change we are turning the NHS around and giving staff the tools they need to deliver the best possible care to patients."
