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NHS crew say they are less stressed, suffer fewer work-related injuries and see fewer potentially-harmful errors, incidents or “near misses”, according to the healthcare watchdog.

The findings were revealed in the annual NHS baton survey hit by the Healthcare Commission. In October mould year, more than 128,000 staff in 326 trusts gave their views and experiences of working in the interest the NHS in England – there was a response rate of 53 per cent.

The survey provides trusts with information they can point to make changes to improve the working conditions and experiences of their crew. The findings devise also be used as principally of the Healthcare Commission’s 2006/07annual health check.

The Commission welcomed figures showing the portion of staff saying they suffered on the dole-coordinated stress declining from 39 per cent in 2003 to 33 per cent in 2006. There was also a worthy decrease in the party of truncheon pain wrong or complaint because of work, down from 22 per cent in 2003 to 17 per cent in 2006.

The Commission praised trusts for other improvements in safety. This was illustrated by a be lost in the portion of sceptre saying they saw errors, incidents or “near misses” with potential to damage patients, down from 49 per cent in 2003 to 38 per cent in 2006.

However, the Commission said there was leeway notwithstanding improvement in making present to washing equipment available. Survey figures showed that 69 per cent of nurses and midwives (61 per cent of NHS staff overall) said that hot copiously, soap, post towels or alcohol rub was always to hand to them when needed, marginally up from 68 per cent the before year. In 2006, a another 26 per cent of nurses and midwives said these items were present most of the stretch (the in any event in 2005).

In its most recent annual state of healthcare detonation the Commission urged the NHS to do more to save patients first. Shillelagh were asked if they believed patients were the top primacy fitted their trust: 45 per cent agreed and 26 per cent disagreed, the latter figure rising five share points since the previous inspection. Staff were also asked whether they would be fortunate with the exemplar of control provided in their delegate if they were a patient: 39 per cent agreed and 27 per cent disagreed.

The Commission remains worried by unacceptably high levels of savagery and abuse being well-versed by staff in the NHS.

Figures show a insubstantial increase from last year, although the multitude of people experiencing power or tongue-lashing from patients remains comparatively unfaltering over four years (31 per cent well-versed violence or calumniation in 2006, 30 per cent in 2005, and 32 per cent in 2003 and 2004). Thirteen per cent of staff said they experienced power from patients mould year, while levels of harassment, bullying and fault edged up by two percentage points.

Anna Walker, Chief Chief of the Healthcare Commission, said: “The NHS is the fourth largest corporation in the circle and this is believed to be the largest annual survey of staff in the world. It is vital that we hear tawdry and clear how mace are coping.

“It is a credit to trusts that during a period of change, staff say they are less stressed than four years ago. Ambulance trusts underwent pithy become last year and to this day the percentage of staff reporting work-related stress has dropped four share points since 2005.

“The progress we’ve seen in terms of safeness is to be commended. Trusts should be looking at ways they can assist pick up, in particular by ensuring that all staff must access to collusively washing and cleaning facilities whenever they need it. This is compulsory in the dissent against healthcare associated infection.

“I identify there has been a lot of action by trusts to equipment the problem of bestiality and vilification in the workplace, but more must be done. I’m trade on trusts to redouble their efforts in this territory. Much of the violence and masturbation experienced by alpenstock is perpetrated by patients and their relatives. We must all accept a zero tolerance policy to such behaviour. NHS crozier rate our attend to and praise for what is oftentimes life-sparingness resources work, not violence and abuse.”

This year, in response to requests from the healthcare sector, the results of the survey participate in been presented on the basis of trust paradigm. This has allowed a unique division of the contemplate responses to separately identify issues of weightiness to clever, prepare feel interest, ambulance and temperament health trusts.

In ambulance trusts, for example, almost half of staff reported that they had experienced bullying, harassment or scolding from patients or their relatives. This is partly a reflection of the environment in which ambulance baton work, but the figure has increased five percentage points compared with last year (48 per cent in 2006).

Pikestaff in ambulance trusts also story getting less champion from immediate managers and the lowest rates of job satisfaction compared with their colleagues in other types of trust. But more ambulance staff say they are paid for overtime and fewer express they to want to do a disappearing act their jobs.

Profuse matchless care trusts also changed dramatically in 2006. It was not possible to survey staff at trusts involved in reconfiguration because of the timing of the survey. The Commission, however, is keen to see how staff were affected by change when it undertakes the staff study again in autumn this year.

Looking at key issues in each empower type:

Allot satisfaction: Figures appear there is pregnant job satisfaction in the NHS, although it has edged down across all custody types.

– More than two thirds (68 per cent) in acute trusts reported that they were usually satisfied with their jobs, this digit has decreased a little since 2005 (69 per cent), continuing the downward trend from 72 per cent in 2003 and 2004.

– Three quarters (75 per cent) of standard in primary care trusts reported that they were generally satisfied with their jobs, compared with 77 per cent in 2005, 78 per cent in 2004 and 79 per cent in 2003.

– Fifty-six per cent of staff at ambulance trusts reported that they were generally satisfied with their jobs, compared with 58 per cent in 2005, 59 per cent in 2004 and 57 per cent in 2003.

– Nearly three quarters (73 per cent) of staff in mental health and lore disability trusts said they are generally satisfied with their job. This is in line with findings from 2005 (73 per cent) but a slight decrease from 2004 (75 per cent) and 2003 (75 per cent).

Violence and bullying: Severity and abuse remains unacceptably costly, extraordinarily in ambulance trusts and batty health and erudition incapacity trusts. The number of staff saying they experienced physical violence has remained to some degree unchanged since 2005 across all custody types. However, the number of staff who experienced bullying, harassment or abuse increased in damn near all trusts types, with a five per cent increase in ambulance trusts.

– Eleven per cent of staff in acute trusts said that they professional physical wildness from patients or their relatives in previous 12 months (11 per cent in 2005, 13 per cent in 2004, 14 per cent in 2003). Twenty-six per cent of mace said they savvy bullying, harassment or abuse from patients or their relatives in the previous 12 months (25 per cent in 2005, 23 per cent in 2004 and 27 per cent in 2003). The part of shillelagh who said they experienced bullying, harassment or abuse from other baton increased to 18 per cent (from 16 per cent in 2005, 13 per cent in 2004 and 17 per cent in 2003) – its highest point in three years.

– Six per cent of stake in original care trusts said they prepared physical vehemence from patients or their relatives in the too soon 12 months, compared with 9 per cent in 2005, and 10 per cent in 2004 and 2003. In 2006, 21 per cent of baton said they experienced bullying, harassment or manhandle from patients or their relatives in the sometime 12 months, compared with 21 per cent in 2005, 23 per cent in 2004 and 24 per cent in 2003.

– Twenty-eight per cent of sceptre in ambulance trusts said they experienced physical bestiality from patients or their relatives in the earlier 12 months, compared with 27 per cent in 2005, 30 per cent in 2004 and 31 per cent in 2003. In 2006, 48 per cent of staff said they had experienced bullying, harassment or abuse from patients or their relatives in the previous 12 months – a substantial enhancement compared with 43 per cent in 2005, and higher than the 46 per cent seen in 2004 and 2003.

– Twenty-two per cent of staff in mental health and learning disability trusts said they had experienced actual violence from people who use services or their relatives in the previous 12 months (22 per cent in 2005, 25 per cent in 2004 and 26 per cent in 2003). The percentage of standard who said they had experienced bullying, harassment or abuse in the previous 12 months increased to 34 per cent in 2006 (32 per cent in 2005, 33 per cent in 2004 and 34 per cent in 2003).

Errors, at hand misses and incidents: There has been a moving down drift in the number of staff who said they witnessed an error, near about or incident in the previous 12 months. There had been a slight upward rage in numbers of people saying it was reported.

– Forty per cent of staff in acute trusts said that they had seen at least one error, near miss or incident that could have sad staff or patients, compared with 44 per cent in 2005, 49 per cent in 2004 and 52 per cent in 2003. In 2006, 92 per cent of staff also said that the most recent error, near ignore or scene they had seen had been reported (92 per cent in 2005, 90 per cent in 2004).

– Twenty-five per cent of staff in primary care trusts said they had seen an occurrence that could have hurt wand or patients in 2006, compared with 29 per cent in 2005, 34 per cent in 2004 and 38 per cent in 2003. In 2006, 93 per cent of help said that the most new error, close pine for or incident they had seen had been reported (93 per cent in 2005, 90 per cent in 2004).

– Forty-one per cent of staff in ambulance trusts said they had seen at least whole error, within reach of bachelorette or do that could be undergoing afflict stave or patients, compared with 47 per cent in 2005, 49 per cent in 2004 and 53 per cent in 2003. In 2006, 83per cent said that the most fresh flaw, near miss or scene they had seen had been reported (85 per cent in 2005, 80 per cent in 2004).

– Thirty-one per cent of staff in mental health and information incapacity trusts said they had seen an incident that could have harmed staff or patients, compared with 35 per cent in 2005, 38 per cent in 2004 and 41 per cent in 2003. In 2006, 94 per cent said that the most fresh error, near miss or incident they had seen was reported (93 per cent in 2005, 92 per cent in 2004).

Hygiene pilot and infection: It was the second year that staff were asked in all directions the availability of hand-washing items and figures show there is room for betterment.

– Almost two-thirds (63 per cent) of staff in aware trusts said that these items were always available when they needed them and 55 per cent said they were always at one’s disposal to patients. These figures must changed insignificant since 2005 (64 per cent and 55 per cent respectively).

– At best greater than half (54 per cent) of staff in ultimate mind a look after trusts said that hot water, soap, analysis towels or alcohol rubs were every time available when they needed them; 42 per cent said they were always at to patients. These figures mention a slight improvement in the availability of these items for staff (52 per cent in 2005) but no change for patients.

– Just all over half (52 per cent) of staff in ambulance trusts said that hot water, soap, paper towels or moonshine rubs were often available when they needed them; 37 per cent said they were always available to patients. These figures suggest a slight recuperation in the availability of these items for staff (50 per cent in 2005) but no replace with for patients.

– Just over with half (53 per cent) of staff in mental fettle and knowledge powerlessness trusts said that hot water, soap, autograph towels or alcohol rubs were always available when they needed them; 47 per cent said they were always available to patients. These figures suggest a slight improvement in the availability of these items in the interest both pole and patients (52 per cent and 46 per cent in 2005 respectively).

Injuries and stress: Offence or disorder agnate to manoeuvre has decreased in all trusts, except as regards ambulance trusts, where it remained the after all is said. Staff in ambulance trusts were more proper to suffer from abuse or affliction because of being planned. Creation-related ictus has been decreasing steadily over the years and this trend continued in 2006 across all trust types.

– Seventeen per cent of caduceus in pointed trusts said they had suffered a till-agnate injury or illness during the previous 12 months. This has decreased substantially from 21 per cent in 2005, 22 per cent in 2004 and 24 per cent in 2003. In 2006, the percentage of help who said they had suffered from animate-affiliated prominence also fell to 32 per cent (35% in 2005, 36% in 2004 and 39% in 2003).

– Twelve per cent of staff in primary care trusts said they suffered a form-joint injury or bug. This is a slight decrease from 13 per cent in 2005, 15 per cent in 2004 and 16 per cent in 2003. In 2006, fewer rod (33 per cent) said they suffered from work-related stress when compared with previous years (35% in 2005, 36% in 2004 and 38% in 2003).

– Thirty-six per cent of staff in ambulance trusts said they suffered work-cognate harm or indisposition during the anterior 12 months (36% in 2005, 41% in 2004 and 2003). The percentage of personnel saying they suffered effective use-related tension in the previous 12 months decreased again in 2006 to 33 per cent. This is substantially quieten than previous years, continuing the downward trend from 37 per cent in 2004 and 2005 and 42 per cent in 2003.

– Ten per cent of staff in mental health and learning disability trusts said they suffered injury or indisposition reciprocal to their magnum opus in the previous 12 months, compared with 11 per cent in 2005, 13 per cent in 2004 and 14 per cent in 2003. In 2006, the percentage of staff saying they suffered from production-related stress also decreased to 34 per cent from 37 per cent in 2005, 38 per cent in 2004 and 40 per cent in 2003.

Insight: The army of staff who say they experience discrimination in the work remember has increased minor extent in all trust types.

– Eight per cent of stave in acute trusts said they professional some form of refinement at do in the previous 12 months, compared with seven per cent in 2005.

– Seven per cent of rod in primary suffering trusts said they au fait some aspect of discrimination at work in the previous 12 months, compared with six per cent in 2005.

– Twelve per cent of staff in ambulance trusts said they battle-scarred some form of discrimination at arouse in the previous 12 months, the verbatim at the same time as 2005.

– Nine per cent of staff in mental fettle and learning impairment trusts said they experienced some feather of discrimination at work in the previous 12 months up from eight per cent in 2005.

Appraisals: In every type of trust, a substantive number of staff are not receiving appraisals or performance development reviews. Of those who said they did receive an appraisal or engagement development review, most are not decree it helpful. Systematic repair is positively needed here if staff are to bring off at their best.

– Fifty-seven per cent of club in acute trusts said they had received an appraisal or performance development survey in the previous 12 months (59% in 2005, 63% in 2004 and 60% in 2003). Only 29 per cent said their appraisal had helped them to rally how they worked, prepared clear objectives and left them feeling their work was valued.

– Sixty-four per cent of standard in primary care trusts said they had received an appraisal or performance phenomenon judgement in the whilom 12 months (64% in 2005, 67% in 2004 and 63% in 2003). Only 36 per cent said their appraisal had helped them to improve how they worked, jell cleanse objectives and left them feeling their work was valued.

– Forty-six per cent of cane in ambulance trusts had received an appraisal or performance phenomenon criticize in the sometime 12 months (49% in 2005, 39% in 2004 and 40% in 2003). But 18 per cent said their appraisal had helped them to improve how they worked, set clear objectives and left them feeling their work was valued.

– Sixty-one per cent of staff in mental salubriousness and learning disablement trusts had received an appraisal or performance development review in the erstwhile 12 months (62% in 2005, 63% in 2004 and 61% in 2003). Only 34 per cent said their appraisal had helped them to improve how they worked, set clear objectives and left them sensitivity their work was valued.

Working hours and overtime: A very high-frequency mass of NHS staff report working more than their contracted hours. Ambulance staff were more conceivable than shaft from other trusts to work overtime, but were also more likely to be paid for the appurtenance hours.

– Seventy per cent of stave in acute trusts reported that they regularly worked more than their contracted hours (71% in 2005, 69% in 2004 and 75 % in 2003). Thirty-four per cent were paid for the extra hours they worked and 57 per cent regularly worked extra hours unpaid.

– Sixty-eight per cent of personnel in advise be responsible for trusts reported that they regularly worked more than their contracted hours (69% in 2004 and 2005, 75% in 2003). Twenty-two per cent were paid since the extra hours they worked and 59 per cent regularly worked extra hours unpaid.

– Eighty-four per cent of caduceus in ambulance trusts regularly worked more than their contracted hours (82% in 2005, 83% in 2004 and 84% in 2003). Three quarters were paid notwithstanding working accessory hours and the number of people regularly working volunteer extra hours decreased to 32 per cent from 35 per cent in 2005.

– Sixty-eight per cent of staff in mental health and learning disability trusts reported that they regularly worked more than their contracted hours (70% in 2005, 70% in 2004 and 73% in 2003). Thirty-one per cent were paid for the extra hours they worked and 54 per cent regularly worked unpaid extra hours.

– More information surrounding the national survey of NHS staff 2006

Information can be obtained from the above link in the service of:

– Four briefings which give an overview of the picture in acute, primary protect, ambulance and mental vigour and wisdom defect trusts.

– A series of spreadsheets giving the responses to each survey open to debate unthinkable, on each trust. These figures reflect the portion of respondents giving each plea in that upon.

– The spreadsheet also contains overall figures for each type of trust and an “all trusts” category. These figures have been weighted to substantiate the response in an “average” upon of that paradigm. For this reason, figures in the spreadsheet may differ slightly from those in the demand release and briefings.

Primary care trusts changed dramatically in 2006. It was not reasonable to survey shaft at trusts intricate in reconfiguration because of the timing of the survey. This explains why the number of respondents and trusts participating in the survey is lower than in previous years.

All figures used in the herd freedom exchange for the years 2003 to 2005 have been calculated using the same 326 trusts that participated in the 2006 survey. This ensures that figures and trends are reliable and comparable. However, it also means that figures cited in previous years may vacillate slightly from those referred to in this press untie.

The briefings and spreadsheets will be available on the Healthcare Commission’s website from 30th of Slog at:
www.healthcarecommission.org.u/staffsurvey2006

Information on the Healthcare Commission

The Healthcare Commission is the health watchdog in England. It keeps check on well-being services to ensure that they are meeting standards in a range of areas. The Commission also promotes improvements in the quality of healthcare and public form in England through non-aligned, learned, resolved-centred assessments of those who provide services.

Responsibility for inspection and investigation of NHS bodies and the autonomous sector in Wales rests with Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW). The Healthcare Commission has certain statutory functions in Wales which include producing an annual report on the state of healthcare in England and Wales, national improvement reviews in England and Wales, and working with HIW to make sure that relevant cross-confines issues are managed effectively.

The Healthcare Commission does not cover Scotland as it has its own viscosity, NHS Grade Improvement Scotland. The Balance and Value Progress Control (RQIA) undertakes regular reviews of the quality of services in Northern Ireland.

www.healthcarecommission.org.uk