Hospital bosses warn of staff ‘ burnout’

HOSPITAL BOSSES in England have raised concerns about staff ‘ burnout’ from the first wave of coronavirus ahead of the winter months.

Leaders warned of a “perfect storm” of workforce shortages, staff burnout, a second wave of Covid- 19 and a difficult winter, according to a survey by NHS Providers.

Concerns were also raised by hospital bosses about funding for social care in their local area, and also the impact of seasonal pressures over the coming winter amid rising coronavirus cases.

Almost all surveyed ( 99 per cent) said they were either extremely or moderately concerned about the current level of burnout across the workforce.

One director of nursing told NHS Providers that staff had been working long hours in “high stress circumstances for quite some time”, adding that it was a “real concern”.

Another chief executive reported than some staff were “energised” and had been recommitted to their career during the crisis while others were “exhausted”.

Just over a third of trust leaders ( 34 per cent) said they were extremely concerned about the current level of burnout across their workforce, while 48 per cent reported being moderately concerned and 17 per cent slightly concerned.

Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, said there had been “no let- up in the pressure” during the pandemic, which followed a difficult winter for staff.

“And while the response to the spring surge in Covid- 19 cases showed the NHS at its best, the pressures took their toll on staff who gave so much,” he said.