Our NHS staff motivated but stressed as well (From Malvern Gazette)

Our NHS staff motivated but stressed as well

8:00am Tuesday 19th March 2013 in News By Tarik Al Rasheed

NHS staff in Worcestershire are some of the most motivated in the country, new figures have revealed.

However the nationwide Department of Health survey also revealed that almost four in 10 staff have suffered from stress over the last 12 months – a figure that has leapt by 10 per cent in the last year.

The statistics show that the 850 Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust workers surveyed rated their motivation at work with an average score of just under four out of five.

This places the trust in the top 20 per cent nationally.

The trust also placed in the top 20 per cent when staff were asked whether they would recommend it as a place to work or receive treatment, with a score of 3.74 against a national average of 3.54.

But 37 per cent of staff surveyed said they had suffered from stress over the last 12 months, up from 27 per cent the year before.

Although this is still below the national average of 41 per cent, the trust will be looking to provide workers with support through various training opportunities.

Chief executive Sarah Dugan said: “We know from the evidence that highly motivated staff deliver the best care so we will continue to drive improvements to support our staff at work to provide the best possible care to patients.

“I would like to reinforce that everything we do as an organisation will be motivated by the continuous drive to improve outcomes for our patients and service users.”

Steps to reduce stress among workers include the monitoring of appraisals, to ensure staff have the opportunity to discuss their performance and receive feedback on a regular basis, as well as a health and well-being strategy.