The mental strain from the NHS medics’ strike is likely to lead to more absenteeism, which will have an impact on patient care, health officials warn.
A recent survey by NHS Providers, conducted ahead of the first wave of recent union action, found that 61% of trustees reported an increase in absenteeism.
Protracted strikes further threaten the mental health of workers, who have called on the government to renegotiate wage talks with unions, officials said.
Miriam Deakin, director of policy at NHS Providers, which represents trusts, said: I: “NHS staff have struggled for far too long with severe staffing shortages, rising demand for services and the effects of the pandemic. The escalation of strikes, although we understand the reasons for this, will make it even more difficult.
“Anxiety, stress and depression are consistently the leading causes of employee illness. Trust leaders tell us their employees are suffering from morale issues as rising demand and operational pressures take a toll on the patient care they are committed to. We know this has made the decision to go on strike even more difficult for some employees.”
The latest figures from NHS England show that in the week ending January 15, there were an average of 52,480 people absent per day, 10% of which were Covid-related.
The NHS Providers survey also found that 93% of trustees were concerned about staff burnout this winter, and 80% about staff morale.
Hospital leaders are also concerned about the NHS Centers for Mental Health and Wellbeing and social workers who will have to deal with this for months as national funding for them is likely to be cut.
NHS England and the Department of Health and Human Services are reportedly on the verge of ending dedicated national funding for 41 centres, set up in February 2021 in the midst of acute Covid pressures and concerns about impacts on staff.
Discussions are ongoing, but it is likely that integrated care schemes will need to find self-financing to continue operating. However, due to limited budgets, many of them are expected to be downsized or closed.
Ms Deakin said: “The constant union action puts the mental health of employees at risk as the government, unions and NHS workers fight this battle. It is disappointing that national funding for mental health and wellness centers is expected to be cut given the vital support available to staff working in these circumstances.
“In order to eliminate the impact of strikes on the mental health of employees, we must prevent them. This means that there is an urgent need for the government and unions to discuss compensation for this fiscal year.”
Dr. Nick Scriven, former president of the Society for Emergency Medicine, said: “All healthcare professionals find the current pressure worrying and concerned that they may not be able to provide care with the empathy and dignity they would like.
“As a trade association, we work to support all of our team members and we hope all NHS trusts have processes in place that are easily accessible to all staff.”
Hospitals are gearing up for the biggest day of strikes in NHS history next month. NHS England Chief Strategy Officer Chris Hopson said the joint action by nurses and paramedics on February 6 was a “landmark change” in the ongoing dispute over pay and working conditions.
The number of affected trusts in England rose from 44 in December to 55 in January and 73 in February. There is also now a shorter gap between strikes, and the next strike starts on Monday, making it harder for patients to leave to improve flow, which is what the trusts did during previous strikes, Mr. Hopson.
On Tuesday, he told the MPs of the Select Committee on Health and Social Assistance: “Now we are entering a new and more complex phase of the dispute. But we are doing our best to ensure that those who need care receive it, as we have done so far.
Meanwhile, data released today shows that the number of deaths in England and Wales has hit a two-year high amid rising flu cases and strong pressure from the NHS. About 17,381 deaths were reported in the seven days ending January 13, according to the Office for National Statistics, up 2,837 from the season’s average.
Source: I News
I’m Raymond Molina, a professional writer and journalist with over 5 years of experience in the media industry. I currently work for 24 News Reporters, where I write for the health section of their news website. In my role, I am responsible for researching and writing stories on current health trends and issues. My articles are often seen as thought-provoking pieces that provide valuable insight into the state of society’s wellbeing.