A leaked report claims that staff shortages, low morale, sickness, and burnout pose a risk to patient safety.
A study commissioned by the University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust reportedly discovered how low morale and overall physical and mental exhaustion affected staff at the Trust’s Accident and Emergency Department.
The report, seen by the city’s Local Democracy Reporting Service and originally reported by the Derby Telegraph, revealed how staff had been instructed to “cry privately” rather than in front of patients as they struggle to deal with burnout.
One senior member of staff told investigators, “So many staff cry now, every day I have them queuing at my doors, all suffering anxiety, stress, insomnia. I worry constantly if we will push some too far.”
Only yesterday, NursingNotes reported that staff at The Royal Preston Hospital were experiencing similar pressures leaving patients waiting “days” for a hospital bed.
Recently, numerous hospitals have declared critical incidents over increased demand for services.
Lambs to the slaughter.
Over forty members of A&E staff, alongside consultants and doctors, were asked their views.
One member of staff is reported to have cried as they told investigators, “I am not happy, I have always loved being a nurse and working for the NHS, but I can’t keep this up, this pace, this speed, this total lack of care over me, us, and our patients.”
Another member of staff added; “I love my job, my role, but this has defeated me, I want to leave and never come back. I was happy, but this is all just too difficult, it is chaos every moment. I feel like I am drowning, and everyone can see I am, but no one offers to save me or pull me out.”
While others were more blunt, “It is a colossal s***-show.”
Staff also raised concerns over a lack of experience in the department suggesting it is “unsafe” and potentially “negligent and criminal”.
They concluded, “We are lambs to the slaughter, staff and patients’ lives put at risk to save face for the trust.”
When asked to rank morale at the department out of ten, with ten being the best, staff ranked it at a two overall.
Immense pressure.
Interim executive medical director and emergency medicine consultant at UHDB Dr James Crampton, responded to the comments, “Our A&E workforce has been under immense pressure during the pandemic and has shown resilience throughout, but they are human too and as an emergency medicine consultant myself I know first-hand how intense it is working in that environment.
“As part of an ongoing programme of support around staff wellbeing, colleagues were encouraged to share raw thoughts and feelings through these series of confidential conversations and group sessions and I’m very grateful they did and I want them to know they can keep talking to us. In doing so they will bring about real change as we build on their experiences to make improvements.
“The wellbeing of those who provide frontline care is our priority and we have a number of staff support initiatives, including listening programmes such as these, on-the-day access to counselling and a wellbeing activity calendar.
“Those attending A&E can be reassured the team continues to provide the highest standard of care possible at this stage of the pandemic.”
