Press release: NHS Confederation welcomes CHI staff survey
10 Mar 2004
The NHS Confederation welcomed the findings of an NHS national staff survey published today by the Commission for Health Improvement (CHI). The report shows that the NHS workforce is in good shape to meet the demands of a modern and effective health care system with nearly three quarters of staff satisfied with their job.
The survey also revealed that over two thirds of NHS staff are satisfied with their managers and the majority said that senior management support new ideas for improving services for patients, confirming that NHS leaders are improving the working lives of its staff.
Alastair Henderson, Acting Director of the Employers Organisation, NHS Confederation, said: "The CHI staff survey is further proof that NHS management is playing a vital role in turning the NHS into a successful workforce and patient focused organisation.
"It is a welcome sign that the NHS is delivering on its objectives when its staff are satisfied with their job and believe the NHS is being led successfully. The perception of senior management among front line staff is positive, with nearly two thirds of staff recognising that managers are focusing on patient need.
"The report, however, clearly indicates areas where more work is needed but shows that the efforts of NHS organisations to improve working lives for staff are paying off. The challenge now is for the NHS to tackle the unacceptable levels of violence and harassment of staff and to further encourage staff to highlight risks so that potentially harmful errors or near misses can be avoided."
Notes for editors
- The CHI staff survey found that 71 per cent of staff believe managers/supervisors play a highly significant role in buffering staff from stress and influencing many aspects of their working life. When manager/supervisor support is high, staff retention is high and absenteeism is low.
- The Confederation is working with the Department of Health to set up an Employer's Organisation service as part of the NHS Confederation. It will represent and support NHS employers on the employment agenda.
- The NHS Confederation represents the organisations that make up the NHS. Our ordinary members include the majority of NHS trusts, primary care trusts and strategic health authorities in England; trusts and local health boards in Wales; trusts and NHS boards in Scotland; and health and social service trusts and boards in Northern Ireland.
Contact details
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