Only 3 in 5 staff happy with standard of patient care at Morecambe Bay hospitals

The annual poll of NHS staff across England has revealed a drop in satisfaction with care standards, while concern over workforce numbers, discontent with pay and work-related stress were also highlighted by health service workers nationally.

At University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, 59% of staff who responded to the 2021 survey said that if a friend or relative needed treatment, they would be happy with the standard of care provided by their organisation.

This was down significantly from 70% the year before, according to the report, which included responses from 3,526 staff at the trust.

It reflected the picture across England as a whole, where 68% of staff said they would feel happy with the standard of care provided for a loved one – down from 74% in 2020.

Of the survey respondents at the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay, just 27% said there are enough staff at their organisation for them to do their job properly – a considerable drop from 39% in 2020.

Some 46% of staff had felt unwell as a result of work-related stress in the previous 12 months, while 32% often or always felt burnt out because of their job.

And roughly 68% said they feel enthusiastic about their job, compared to 73% a year earlier.

Patricia Marquis, Royal College of Nursing director for England, said the national figures – which show more than half of NHS staff feel burnt out at the end of their working day and four in five feel there aren't enough staff in their organisation – will "do nothing to reassure the public".

She added: “Nursing staff have sent a clear message they’re exhausted and that staff shortages are undermining their efforts to give safe and effective care.

“This is a stark reminder of the impact of tens of thousands of nursing vacancies."

Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, which represents trusts, said the overall picture is unsurprising due to the "unprecedented pressure" placed on NHS staff throughout the pandemic.