Press release: Leading expert calls for NHS to tackle soaring levels of workforce stress

17 Jun 2005

The NHS needs to do much more to tackle soaring levels of stress in the workplace, because of the huge human and financial costs, contends a leading expert on organisational psychology.

Increasing workload, constant organisational change, pressure to meet targets, and inadequate support are the primary causes of stress in the public sector, says Cary Cooper CBE, Professor of Organisational Psychology and Health at the University of Lancaster.

Professor Cooper was speaking at the NHS Confederation's annual conference in Birmingham this week, at which he suggested that stress costs the UK the equivalent of up to 5% of its gross domestic product (GDP).
With 1.3 million employees, the NHS is the principal public sector employer in the UK.

'This problem is not about whingers and malingerers,' said Professor Cooper. 'Stress levels are very high and very real.'

'But stress is not often seen as an issue worth investing resources in,' he said. 'The approach is punitive, with the assumption that the employee is at fault, rather than the organisation.'

The physical consequences include a litany of well documented health problems. They range from skin disorders, asthma, migraine and musculoskeletal problems to severe depression, heart disease and stroke.
And there are also repercussions in the workplace, with an increase in aggression, accidents, mistakes, staff turnover, litigation, and low morale all more likely. Relationships with patients and family also suffer.
Julian Topping, Occupational Health and Safety Policy Lead at NHS Employers, the new employers' organisation for the NHS, said:

'We know that stress among staff is serious problem in the NHS and that it has a huge impact, both personally on individual staff members and financially on employers. We also know that managers need more information and support on how to recognise and effectively deal with stress.

That is why we have launched a campaign to tackle the issue. Over the coming months we will be developing a range of tools to help both employers and staff prevent, identify and tackle the effects of stress. We will also be working to raise the profile of stress and its causes.'

• US estimates suggest that stress costs the US economy US$100 billion in terms of decreased productivity and days off work. 
• A recent survey from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development  (CIPD) shows that stress is the leading cause of long term sick leave in the UK.1
• Public sector employees topped the league table, and rates are rising. Almost two thirds of public sector respondents said that sick leave due to stress had increased in the previous 12 months.
• Rates of long term sick leave for stress were twice as high as those for mental health problems and more than five times as high as those for physical illness and surgery in the public sector.

The UK is not the only country in Europe to be battling with a surge in stress related problems. A recent survey of almost 16,000 employees across Europe2 showed that stress was the second biggest work related health problem, and cited by more than one in four respondents.

But employee satisfaction in the UK is among the worst. Out of 17 European countries, the UK ranked 16th in terms of job satisfaction scores. And scores have been steadily falling since 1985.

Dame Gill Morgan, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, commented:

This clearly is an issue which the NHS cannot afford to ignore. But it is not just a matter for NHS managers. Policy makers also need to be involved.'

Signs of stress to look out for:

Physical symptoms include:

• loss of appetite
• food cravings when under pressure
• frequent indigestion/heartburn
• constipation or diarrhoea
• insomnia
• sweating

Ends

Notes for editors

1. The NHS Confederation represents more than 90% of the organisations that make up the NHS throughout the UK. Its members include the majority of NHS trusts, foundation trusts, primary care trusts and health authorities in England; trusts and local health boards in Wales; NHS boards and special boards in Scotland; and health and social service trusts and boards in Northern Ireland. 
2. NHS Employers is the employers' organisation for the NHS in England, was launched on 1 November 2004. Its work programme includes pay negotiations, health and safety, equality and diversity, recruitment and retention, the NHS Pension Scheme review, European and UK employment practice, safer recruitment and doctor disciplinary.  NHS Employers is part of the NHS Confederation but has its own director, policy board and assembly. Further information on NHS Employers is available at www.nhsemployers.org 
3. [1] Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development Annual Survey 2004.
4. [2] European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions.

 

Contact details

For further information, contact Sarah Jones 0207 074 3300 / 07768 546 753 or Caroline White on 07980 800 465

Back to media centre