‘Staff increasingly reporting bullying and harassment’
NHS staff at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board (UHB) are increasingly reporting bullying from their own colleagues.
An NHS survey found 18% of Cardiff and Vale health board staff said they have experienced harassment, bullying or abuse at work from their manager, team leader or colleagues in the last year, up from 16% in 2016.
Only around half of staff – 48% – have said effective action has been taken as a result of staff experiencing harassment, bullying or abuse.
A further 22% said they had suffered harassment, bullying or abuse from patients or service users, their relatives or other members of the public – which had also increased from 20% in 2016.
Levels of work-related stress among Cardiff and Vale NHS staff have also “significantly worsened” in 2018, the survey found.
More than a third – 34% – of staff who responded say they have been injured or felt unwell as a result of work-related stress during the past 12 months – up from 28% in 2016.
A total of 63% said in the last three months they had come to work despite not feeling well enough to perform their duties – up from 57% in 2016.
And 25% said they felt pressure from their managers to come to work – but this had dropped from 39% in 2013.
The health board says it does not tolerate bullying and harassment.
A total of 3,382 Cardiff and Vale UHB staff completed the survey but the number of people who answered each question varied.
The survey also found 65% of staff would recommend Cardiff and Vale University Health Board as a place to work and 78% would be happy for a friend or relative to be treated there.
A spokesman for Cardiff and Vale UHB said: “We have received the findings from the NHS Wales staff survey and will be reviewing the report to identify any themes or issues raised by our staff.
“We welcome the feedback our staff have given through the survey as it enables us to explore any issues raised and to work with our staff to make improvements where necessary.
“As a health board we do not tolerate bullying and harassment and feel that everyone should feel safe and supported when they come to work.
“Our chair, Maria Battle, has been instrumental in developing the Freedom to Speak Up Safely campaign, which is committed to providing an environment which facilitates open dialogue and communication to ensure any concerns staff may have are raised and responded to as soon as possible.”