WIREDGOV

Survey shows national picture of staff experience.

The majority of NHS staff are happy to go the ‘extra mile’ at work, a nationwide survey has shown.

The NHS Scotland Staff Survey 2015, published recently, saw an increased response rate to the questionnaire, with an additional 5,600 staff members completing the survey compared to last year.

This year’s results showed that 89 per cent of respondents were happy to go the ‘extra mile’ at work when required, while 85 per cent agreed that they are clear what their duties and responsibilities are.

For the first time, staff were asked if they have confidence and trust in their direct line manager, with 79 per cent saying they did. In total 79 per cent of those who completed the survey also agreed that they get the help and support they need from colleagues, while 77 per cent confirmed they still intend to be working with their health boards in 12 months.

In addition, 77 per cent also understand how their work fits into the overall aims of their health board.

Health Secretary Shona Robison welcomed the increase in responses to the survey and pledged to support health boards further improve staff experience.

Ms Robison said:

“I am extremely thankful for the hard work and dedication of our NHS staff. It is due to their on-going commitment that the NHS in Scotland is able to provide world-class care for patients.

“This feedback from staff throughout the organisation is extremely important in letting us know what is going right and where we can make improvements.

“Under this government NHS staff numbers have risen to a record high, with more consultants, nurses and midwives delivering care for the people of Scotland. We are also committed to training and retaining our nursing staff which is why we have increased student nursing and midwifery intakes and invested £450,000 over the next three years to reintroduce a national return to practice scheme.

“It is welcome that staff remain committed to their roles, with almost nine out of ten willing to go the ‘extra mile’ at work. It is also promising that so many staff members have confidence and trust in their direct line manager, and get help and support from colleagues when needed.

“However, we know there are challenges to be addressed, in particular making staff feel engaged and involved in the decisions being made within their health board.

“It is vital that we learn from these findings, and I will be expecting all health boards to use their individual survey results to work with staff to bring in changes which will further improve staff experience.

“We will also continue to work in partnership with professional bodies, unions and health boards to examine these findings and discuss how we will work to more effectively measure and further improve the experience of staff working in Scotland’s NHS.”

A total of 60,681 NHS staff completed the survey.

Notes To Editors

The NHS Scotland Staff Survey Report is available online at: http://www.gov.scot/nhsscotlandstaffsurvey2015nationalreport

The total NHS workforce (excluding GPs and dentists) has increased by 1,043.2 whole time equivalent (WTE) posts over the past year to a total of 137,727.9 WTE posts.

Under the current Government, the NHS Scotland workforce has increased by 8.4 per cent with over 10,600 more WTE staff.