NHS senior managers could do more to engage staff, a new NHS survey suggests.
The results of the fifth annual National Survey of NHS Staff say staff feel they are being kept in the dark when it comes to important decisions. But despite this, staff morale remains fairly high thanks in part to the efforts of line managers.
Less than a quarter of staff who were surveyed agreed that senior managers involve staff in important decisions and that communication between senior management and staff is effective.
Only 39% of staff were satisfied with the recognition they get and less than a quarter said that they were satisfied, or very satisfied, with the extent to which the trust values their work. This emerges as the single most common reason given by those thinking of leaving their jobs.
Although these results suggest a breakdown in communication, job satisfaction remains high and similar to levels of recent years.
Line managers praised
Results also showed there is a generally high level of satisfaction with immediate managers. 71% of respondents agreed that their manager encouraged them to work as a team, and similar proportions felt that he or she was supportive in a crisis or could be counted on to help with difficult tasks.
Just over half of staff felt their immediate manager asked for their opinions before making decisions that would affect their work, and 53% said their manager gave them clear feedback.
Anna Walker, the Healthcare Commission’s chief executive, said: “As one of the largest employers in the world, the NHS needs to be aware of and responsive to how staff are coping.
"Staff in the NHS provide vital, often life-saving care. Yet they do not feel their work is valued by their trust and that communication with senior management is poor. These are things that trusts can and must change.”
