‘Woeful’ pay rises have taken their toll on NHS staff

‘Woeful’ pay rises have taken their toll on NHS workers, reveals a major survey which lays bare their true feelings. 

Nearly 70 per cent of those quizzed about their salary felt they were underpaid last year – the highest level in a decade.

And more than half admitted to working additional hours without being paid for doing them, according to the NHS Staff Survey.

Worryingly, a third revealed they felt poorly because of the pressure placed upon them. Experts have already warned this is ‘haemorrhaging’ staff.

Around 490,000 workers were quizzed in the poll, which has been ongoing since 2003 and is the largest workforce survey in the world.

Furious campaigners have branded the Government a ‘disgrace’ for relying on the good will of overworked staff to prop up the NHS. 

Around 490,000 NHS workers were quizzed in the poll, which has been ongoing since 2003 and is the largest workforce survey in the world

An urgent problem 

Sara Gorton, head of UNISON Health, said: ‘It’s clear that wage freezes, and woeful pay rises below the rate of inflation, have taken their toll on NHS staff.

‘If this isn’t addressed, the NHS is going to haemorrhage more staff. 

‘This not only puts further pressure on the remaining nurses, healthcare assistants and other NHS colleagues, but also ultimately affects patient care and safety.’ 

She continued: ‘It will also come as no surprise to the public to hear that NHS staff are regularly doing unpaid overtime. 

‘It’s a disgrace that the government is relying on the good will of overworked staff to prop up the NHS.’ 

What else did the survey find? 

The 2017 survey found that 66 per cent of staff ‘agree’ or ‘strongly agree’ that they are able to deliver the care they aspire to – down from 68.2 per cent in 2016.

And 81.2 per cent admitted they were satisfied with the quality of care they give to patients – down from 82.7 per cent the year before.

Just a third of respondents agreed there are enough staff in their organisation to enable them to do their job properly.   

WHAT DID THE 2017 NHS STAFF SURVEY REVEAL? 

Around 1.1 million NHS workers were invited to answer the annual NHS Staff Survey. Some 487,227 responded.

Their answers revealed: 

  • 31% of staff were satisfied with their level of pay
  • 58% of staff worked additional unpaid hours 
  • 38% of staff reported feeling unwell due to work-related stress in the last 12 months
  • 68% say their immediate manager takes an interest in their health and wellbeing
  • 66% of staff ‘agree’ or ‘strongly agree’ that they are able to deliver the care they aspire to
  • 81.2% admitted they were satisfied with the quality of care they give to patients

However, the poll – conducted by the Survey Coordination Centre, based at Picker, on behalf of NHS England – also uncovered some positivity.

It found that three quarters of staff are enthusiastic about their job.

And seven in 10 said if a friend or relative needed treatment, they would be happy with the standard of care provided by their organisation.

Challenging results 

Danny Mortimer, chief executive of NHS Employers, which represents employers in the health service, said the ‘challenging results’ need to be taken ‘seriously’. 

He said: ‘We cannot expect staff to absorb additional work pressures year on year without it having an adverse effect on their experience of work.

‘It’s disappointing but understandable that staff are less satisfied with the standard of care they are able to provide and that they are feeling more stressed.

‘I am, however, encouraged that staff continue to be willing to recommend the NHS as a place to be cared for.’

Going above and beyond 

Neil Churchill, director of patient experience at NHS England, said: ‘Staff are going above and beyond to deliver the best care under pressure and these results show that staff appreciate the efforts of managers to listen, support and act on staff concerns.

‘Nevertheless there are warning signs NHS employers will need to do all they can to ensure the NHS supports our staff to deliver the high standards expected by patients.’

Care standards ‘heading in the wrong direction’ 

It’s a disgrace that the government is relying on the good will of overworked staff to prop up the NHS

Sara Gorton, head of UNISON Health

Janet Davies, chief executive and general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, said: ‘These figures bear out the warnings from nurses on the NHS frontline – patient care standards are heading in the wrong direction and nursing staff will not accept it.

‘But it also reveals the sharpest of all rises in dissatisfaction with pay, now standing at 45 per cent of the workforce – up by more than 7 per cent in a single year. 

‘It is a timely reminder for the Chancellor that years of unfair pay deals have taken their toll and a meaningful rise is long overdue.

‘More than half of NHS staff report working unpaid overtime every single week. 

‘Ministers must stop treating the goodwill and dedication of NHS staff as a replacement for adequate funding and proper workforce planning. Continuing down this path is unfair, and untenable.’ 



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