A health leader has declared a 'profound crisis' in NHS staff morale, with frontline medics reporting that physical attacks, verbal abuse, and threats of violence have become all too familiar for those working in the health service.
Sir Ciarán Devane, chief executive of NHS Alliance, which represents NHS trusts, has warned that urgent action is required to protect workers from abuse and discrimination. He emphasised that staff should be shielded from 'pressures created by the wider political climate'.
Dr Ian Higginson, president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, added that staff experience 'vile behaviour' every day, with attacks, abuse, and threats now 'commonplace' in the NHS.
Rising aggression and discrimination
Sir Ciarán noted that NHS employees from diverse backgrounds feel particularly under threat at present. 'There is a very bleak picture emerging that is one of a profound crisis in the morale of NHS staff,' he said. 'Protecting staff from all forms of abuse, discrimination and as far as possible the pressures created by the wider political climate is not optional - it is essential.'
Pointing to a rise in verbal aggression, discriminatory behaviour, physical violence, and sexual misconduct directed at NHS staff, Sir Ciarán added: 'If we fail to safeguard the workforce, we fail patients.'
Greater Manchester initiative
Health officials in Greater Manchester have launched a 'No Space for Racism' campaign to help people understand the impact of racism on NHS staff and empower witnesses to act. Around one in four health and care staff in Greater Manchester reported experiencing racism at work in the past year, according to the Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership (GM ICP), with some facing physical assaults alongside racist abuse and intimidation.
NHS Alliance has called for a national campaign on respect for NHS workers. A survey of health service leaders revealed deep concerns about staff morale. One acute trust leader said: 'Our people experience everything that's going on in wider society, so there is no doubt, certainly for colleagues I work with, that people are experiencing racism, they're experiencing the things that we're seeing in terms of social fragmentation.'
A health service manager added: 'The staff survey has taken a hit due to low morale and staff saying they don't have a doable job.'
Impact of productivity demands
One leader noted that a drive for ever-increasing productivity and tighter finances has caused 'significant damage to staff morale'. Speaking ahead of the major annual conference, NHS ConfedExpo, Sir Ciarán said: 'Put bluntly, this cannot be allowed to continue, the NHS cannot function without its most valuable asset, its people.'
'Policymakers, NHS leaders and the public alike must work together to ensure that every member of NHS staff – from porters and healthcare assistants, nurses and physios, to doctors and managers – can work free from fear, discrimination and hostility.'
'We need a united response to drive this out of our health services and in wider society.'
Call for action
Dr Higginson said: 'Every day in our hospitals, staff experience absolutely vile behaviour from some members of the public. Physical attacks, verbal abuse and threats of violence have become commonplace. We continue to hear deeply concerning accounts from our members about the abuse they face while caring for patients.'
'While violence and aggression are problems faced by all NHS workers, the levels of racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia and all other forms of discrimination my colleagues face on a daily basis have become distressing and at times beyond belief.'
'Driving this are societal issues which reach far beyond the doors of our departments. Meanwhile, the responses from employers and authorities often feel lacklustre.'
'We support any measures or campaigns which would support our staff and stamp out this shocking abuse targeted at people just doing their jobs – people who have come to work to save lives.'
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: 'We have zero tolerance for NHS staff being abused or discriminated against. These everyday heroes go above and beyond to care for others – often in the most challenging of circumstances – and deserve to be respected and praised, not mistreated.'
'That's why alongside mandatory reporting and investigation of every incident of abuse or discrimination, we have accepted Lord Mann's recommendations to strengthen protections even further. This includes holding NHS trusts accountable through a new staff standard focused on tackling racism.'
