The King's Fund responds to the findings of the NHS staff survey

Commenting on the findings of the NHS staff survey, Suzie Bailey, Director of Leadership and Organisational Development at The King’s Fund, said:

‘This year’s NHS staff survey underlines the scale of the workforce crisis facing the service with only a third of NHS workers feeling that there are enough staff for them to do their job properly. The service needs to do everything it can to retain staff, so it is deeply worrying that stress levels have hit a five-year high, with 40 per cent reporting work-related stress within the last 12 months.

‘It is simply unacceptable that so many NHS staff face abuse and discrimination from their colleagues at work. Action is needed at every level of the health service to create environments where staff can do their very best work.

‘Despite mounting pressure on the NHS, there is some good news for staff. More employees report feeling valued and a greater proportion feel that they are recognised for good work.

‘Workforce is one of the Secretary of State’s priority areas, and the NHS long-term plan aims to make the health service a “consistently great place to work”. Today’s figures make clear there is a long way to go before the rhetoric becomes reality.’

Notes to editors

For more information please contact Andrew McCracken, Head of Press and Public Affairs at The King’s Fund on 020 7307 2585 or 07774 907 960, or by email at [email protected]

The King's Fund is an independent charity working to improve health and care in England. We help to shape policy and practice through research and analysis; develop individuals, teams and organisations; promote understanding of the health and social care system; and bring people together to learn, share knowledge and debate. Our vision is that the best possible health and care is available to all.