Nursing staff are facing serious health issues due to persistent understaffing in NHS hospitals and care homes, as highlighted in a significant survey. The Royal College of Nursing revealed that workforce shortages are causing staff to experience nightmares and panic attacks, compelling them to continue working even when unwell.
The union disclosed that it receives numerous distress calls each week from exhausted employees, with the volume of calls to its advice line expected to reach a record high this year. A survey involving over 20,000 UK nursing professionals found that 66% admitted to working while ill multiple times a year, a notable increase from 2017.
Stress emerged as the primary reason for illness among staff members, cited by 65.1% of respondents, marking a rise from 50% in 2017. The number of individuals reporting working while sick due to stress reached an eight-year peak. Additionally, around 70% of staff are working beyond their contracted hours weekly, with half of them doing so without compensation.
Recent NHS data for June indicated that the overall sickness absence rate for NHS staff in England stood at 4.9%, equating to approximately one in 20 staff members. The absence rates were higher for nurses, health visitors, midwives, and ambulance staff.
Anecdotes from healthcare professionals painted a grim picture of the challenges faced due to understaffing. The stories included accounts of chronic illnesses arising from stress, nightmares, unpaid overtime, and concerns about unsafe working conditions in both hospitals and care homes.
Professor Nicola Ranger, the RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive, emphasized the toll of working in understaffed environments on nursing staff’s health and well-being. She stressed the urgent need for action to alleviate the immense pressures faced by healthcare workers to prevent further harm.
In response, a spokesperson from the Department of Health and Social Care acknowledged the value of nurses’ contributions and outlined measures being taken to improve working conditions. Initiatives include enhancing occupational health support, promoting flexible working arrangements through new staff standards, and addressing workplace issues like violence, racism, and harassment.
Efforts are also underway to create more job opportunities for qualified nurses and midwives, with a new graduate guarantee scheme to facilitate easier access to thousands of new positions, aiming to reduce the strain on existing staff.