Engagement and wellbeing of NHS staff is central to delivering high quality patient care

23 February 2016

The first NHS staff survey ran in 2003. Each year the data provides information on how NHS providers can improve patient care and staff well-being across the sector. There is growing evidence that demonstrates clear links between levels of staff engagement and a range of outcomes for trusts, including patient satisfaction, patient mortality, trust performance ratings, staff absenteeism and turnover. The more engaged a workforce is, the better the outcomes for patients.

Miriam Deakin, head of policy, NHS Providers, said:

“The NHS staff survey provides the most systematic insight into the experiences of the hard working people at the heart of England’s health service at a time when the service is under unprecedented pressure, both operationally and financially.

“We know there is a strong correlation between staff engagement and improved quality of care so it is encouraging to see an increase in staff confirming that patient care is their organisation’s top priority, a trend in staff feeling motivated and engaged, and an increase in staff recommending their organisation as a place to work or receive treatment.

All NHS provider boards will wish to act on this invaluable data to make the most of the collective skills and create caring cultures within their organisations

“However, it is very concerning that a picture is emerging of a workforce under significant and growing stress, with only 39% of staff satisfied with the quality of care they provide to patients and a worrying trend with regard to unacceptable behaviour such as bullying."

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The full results are available on the NHS staff survey website.