STAFF at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust (WAHT) have complained of greater harassment and bullying at work from both from colleagues and patients.
They’ve also say communication levels are poor with senior managers at the trust, which runs both the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch and Worcestershire Royal Hospital in Worcester.
These are the findings from the annual Department of Health 2016 NHS Staff Survey which put the overall staff engagement score at the trust at 3.66 against a national average of 3.80.
The survey paints a picture of staff gallantly soldiering on under increasing pressure, working extra hours, coming in while unwell, and suffering from work-related stress.
However despite this there are indications that of late matters are improving with a fall in the number of those experiencing harassment, bullying or violence in the last month.
At the same time they’ve witnessed potentially more harmful errors ‘in the past month’ while those who would recommend it as a good place to work have tumbled.
In contrast nearby South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust is celebrating after achieving their best staff survey scores to date.
Staff at this trust put it in the highest band in 26 out of the 32 categories.
This included exceeding the national average when asked if staff would recommend the trust as a place to work or receive treatment, scoring 4.06 against an average of 3.71.
Staff in South Warwickshire were also keener to show their appreciation with 56.26 per cent taking part in the survey compared to 32.54 per cent from Worcestershire Acute.
Neal Stote, former chairman of campaign group Save the Alex said: “This survey shows just how unhappy staff at Worcestershire Acute are.
“It shows the level of frustration within a system that is not only beginning to crack but which has gaping holes in funding and staffing.”
A spokesperson for Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust said: “The annual staff survey is a valuable tool for us in understanding the views of our staff.
“Whilst it is good to see that that there are five areas of improvement it is not where we want to be overall.”
To view the survey, visit www.nhsstaffsurveyresults.com
