There have been a
record number of improvements in the 2009 annual NHS staff survey,
Health Minister Ann Keen announced today.
The survey results published today by the Care Quality Commission
provide NHS trusts with the information they need to improve
workplaces for staff.
The NHS staff survey changed in 2008 to reflect pledges made to
staff in the NHS Constitution to deliver high quality workplaces.
NHS organisations are legally obliged to take account of the
rights and pledges set out in the NHS Constitution.
Staff survey key findings include:
· More staff are satisfied with the quality of work and patient
care they are able to deliver (up from 71% to 74%)
· Staff job satisfaction has never been higher (3.5 on scale 1-5)
and new findings show high levels of staff engagement with their
jobs (3.84 on scale 1-5)
· Best ever appraisal rates (up from 64% to 69%) and staff with
personal development plans (up from 55% to 60%)
· Lowest levels of physical violence (down from 12% to 11%) and
harassment (down from 23% to 21%) from patients
· Fewer staff witnessing errors (down from 35% to 33%) and
reporting levels maintained at high levels (96%)
· Further sustained improvements in the ratings on the
availability of hand-washing materials, on training and promotion
of infection control
Health Minister Ann Keen said:
"As a nurse I know that working in the NHS is a really
rewarding job so it is great to see that nine out of ten staff
feel their job really makes a difference and that more are
satisfied with the care they deliver.
“We know that staff experience links directly to patient
experience and I encourage all NHS trusts to use the staff survey
as an essential tool to improve the quality of care.
“The results also show positive signs that an increasing strong
culture of reporting and learning is being embedded in the NHS. I
am pleased that almost all staff will report potential errors that
they witness”.
"And while any level of physical violence, bullying or
harassment of staff by patients or the public is unacceptable I am
encouraged that the levels reported are the lowest they have ever
been. It is evidence of commitments nationally and locally to
support staff and shows progress can and is being made."
Director General for Workforce Clare Chapman said:
"Patients can be confident they are getting a better
deal from staff.
"I am delighted to see improvements to the highest ever
level in so many areas. Staff are reporting better experience with
appraisal, support from their managers and with the quality of
care they are able to deliver.
"There are also new findings about staff engagement
which demonstrate the commitment and passion that NHS staff bring.
"The best organisations prove it is possible to improve
both patient and staff experience in keeping with the pledges in
the NHS Constitution.
"Given the challenges that healthcare face, now is the
time for all organisations to learn from the best and fully
involve staff in the improvement of services."
Notes to Editors
1. For media enquires please call the Department of Health
newsdesk on 0207 210 5221.
2. The NHS staff survey, coordinated by the Care Quality
Commission, was sent to almost 290,000 staff across all NHS trusts
in October and November last year. Almost 150,000 NHS staff
responded (a response rate of 55%). National findings and
individual trust reports are published on the CQCs website
3. New questions were added to the survey last year to better
align the survey with the pledges made to staff in the NHS.
4. The Social Partnership Forum, which comprises NHS Employers,
trade unions and the Department, will review the NHS staff survey
findings at their meeting in April.
Contacts:
Department of Health
Phone: 020 7210 5221
NDS.DH@coi.gsi.gov.uk