RCN welcomes the Healthcare Commission’s NHS staff survey

Published: 25 March 2009

The Royal College of Nursing has welcomed the publication of the sixth Healthcare Commission annual survey of NHS staff. The RCN said it was pleased with the significant improvements in infection control reported, but expressed concern that reports of violence against staff remained unchanged. 

RCN Chief Executive & General Secretary, Dr. Peter Carter, said: 

"This survey shows that nine out of ten staff feel that they are able to make a difference to patients, and this is why people choose to come into nursing. It is particularly positive that more staff are reporting that they have been trained in infection control and that hand-washing materials are always available when they need them, although there is still plenty left to do in the fight against infections". 

The RCN urged employers to address the problems which are making staff unhappy, as nearly half of those surveyed said they would not recommend the NHS as a place to work. The College highlighted the staff shortages problems and the affect this may have on patients as 47 per cent of staff also said that there were not enough staff to do their jobs properly. Dr Carter added: 

"Only last week, the Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust was criticised for putting money-saving measures ahead of safe patient care. If there are too few nurses and staff are putting in extra unpaid hours just to do the job, then it is no surprise that less than a third feel valued by their employers. Put simply, good nursing care needs enough nurses to deliver it, and understaffed wards put the lives of patients at risk". 

The RCN said the number of attacks on NHS staff noted in the survey, is still unacceptable and urged the Government to act quickly on their pledge to provide extra investment, such as alarms for staff working alone in the community, so NHS staff can work in an environment free from the threat of violence.

The survey questionnaires were completed by 160,000 workers from all 390 NHS trusts.

Further information

The Healthcare Commission is the health watchdog in England. It keeps check on health services to ensure that they are meeting standards in a range of areas. Findings from the Healthcare Commission 2008 NHS staff survey include:

  •  Significant positive improvements in questions relating to infection control.
  •  Work-related stress is down.
  • Violence against staff remains the same, but bullying, harassment and abuse is declining.
  • Reporting of errors and incidents has improved but trusts need to tell staff about changes made as a result.
  • Leaders need to communicate the vision for the NHS and for individual trusts.
  • Staff want to provide a high standard of care but many feel there is not enough time or staff.
  • Staff feel their job is rewarding and makes a difference, but they don't feel valued by their trust or that senior managers act on their feedback.
  • Teams need to be better structured with clearer objectives.
  • Some staff still face discrimination at work, but most agree that their trust acts fairly in promoting staff.
  • Ambulance staff report poorer working environments.

Read more on the Healthcare Commission website.