Government responds to report on workforce burnout and resilience in the NHS and social care

The government has released a report responding to the Health and Social Care Committee’s report on workforce burnout and resilience in the NHS and social care, published in June 2021.

The report highlighted several key issues, including:

• The scale and impact of workforce burnout and its contributing factors
• The impact of workplace culture on burnout and the further work needed to create an inclusive and compassionate working environment that better supports staff in the health and care sector
• The unique impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the workforce
• How more comprehensive workforce planning is necessary to ensure the health and care sector has the number of staff it needs both now and in the long-term.

The report acknowledges the pressure on the workforce, as noted by the committee and by many of those who gave evidence throughout the course of the enquiry. The government notes that it remains committed to providing the workforce with the health and wellbeing support they need both now and in the longer term.

The importance of learning from experience during the COVID-19 pandemic is highlighted, the adoption of new practices that have worked well should be adopted, to ensure the health and care sector rebuilds in a way that is even better than before.

However, it is noted that the pandemic has also highlighted disparities in experience for some staff working in the health and care system. In their report, the committee noted the disproportionate impact the pandemic has had on staff from ethnic minority backgrounds and emphasised that the treatment of staff from ethnic minorities too often falls short from the high standards all staff should rightfully expect.

It’s recognised within the report that more needs to be done to support leaders and teams to create an inclusive and compassionate workplace culture for everyone that works in the NHS, encouraging a positive culture where people feel empowered to speak up in the knowledge that their voices will be heard.

It is also noted that monitoring staff wellbeing is essential both to better understand the various factors that impact upon wellbeing and to take action to drive continuous improvement, alongside multiple other factors.

To read the government’s response in full, click here.

Burnout, stress and being human

In this episode of the Safety & Health Podcast, Heather Beach is joined by Stacy Thomson to discuss burnout, perfectionism and how to deal with burnout as an individual, as management and as an organisation.

What makes us susceptible to burnout?

In this episode  of the Safety & Health Podcast, ‘Burnout, stress and being human’, Heather Beach is joined by Stacy Thomson to discuss burnout, perfectionism and how to deal with burnout as an individual, as management and as an organisation.

We provide an insight on how to tackle burnout and why mental health is such a taboo subject, particularly in the workplace.

Listen now!