Two-thirds of nurses in the UK have worked while unwell, according to a Royal College of Nursing (RCN) survey of over 20,000 nursing staff. The figure rose from 49% in 2017 to 66%.
Stress was cited as the leading cause of illness by 65% of respondents, up from 50% in 2017. Seven out of ten said they worked beyond contracted hours at least once a week, with about half doing so unpaid. The NHS has over 25,000 nursing vacancies in England.
RCN chief executive Prof Nicola Ranger said nursing staff are being driven to ill health by understaffed and under-resourced services, leaving them with an impossible task. The union receives an average of six calls per day from members about staffing levels, with many reporting burnout, panic attacks, and nightmares.
One NHS staff nurse in England said they developed a chronic stress-related illness but could not leave due to the overwhelmed department. Another in a care home described dreading going to work knowing they would be short-staffed and work unpaid.
An NHS spokesperson acknowledged the need to address burnout and said measures like a graduate guarantee are helping reduce vacancies. A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said the 10-year health plan will improve conditions for the workforce.
