Hospital bosses warn of 'perfect storm' ahead of winter months, with staff shortages, burnout and possible second coronavirus wave

Hospital bosses in England have raised concerns about staff burnout from the first wave of coronavirus ahead of the winter months.
Hospital bosses have warned of a 'perfect storm' leading up to winterHospital bosses have warned of a 'perfect storm' leading up to winter
Hospital bosses have warned of a 'perfect storm' leading up to winter

Leaders warned of a “perfect storm” of workforce shortages, staff burnout, a second wave of Covid-19 and a difficult winter, according to a survey by NHS Providers.

Concerns were also raised by hospital bosses about funding for social care in their local area, and the impact of seasonal pressures over winter amid rising coronavirus cases.

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Almost all surveyed (99 per cent) said they were either extremely or moderately concerned about the current level of burnout across the workforce.

One director of nursing told NHS Providers that staff had been working long hours in “high stress circumstances for quite some time”, adding that it was a “real concern”.

Another chief executive reported than some staff were “energised” and had been recommitted to their career during the crisis while others were “exhausted”.

Just over a third of trust leaders (34 per cent) said they were extremely concerned about the current level of burnout across their workforce, while 48 per cent reported being moderately concerned and 17 per cent slightly concerned.

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Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, said there had been “no let-up in the pressure” during the pandemic, which followed a difficult winter for staff.

“And while the response to the spring surge in Covid-19 cases showed the NHS at its best, the pressures took their toll on staff who gave so much,” he said.

“The worry is that the sustained physical, psychological and emotional pressure on health staff is threatening to push them beyond their limits of endurance.”

Over half of trust leaders surveyed (56 per cent) said they were extremely concerned about the impact of seasonal pressures over winter on their trust and local area, while some 38 per cent said they were moderately concerned.

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“We have a perfect storm on the horizon; depleted staff, depleted capacity, increasing workload,” one chief executive said.

Leaders from 140 NHS trusts and foundation trusts across England responded to the survey, which was conducted during August.

Meanwhile, some 83 per cent of trust leaders reported that they were worried or very worried that sufficient investment is not being made in social care in their local area.

NHS Providers, which represents NHS trust leaders, warned that leaders had remarked that the “discharge flow” from hospitals back into the community was starting to slow down.

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“And when you ask them what’s the problem, what comes back is effectively problems in social care because of lack of capacity,” Mr Hopson said.

“That’s not surprising given current funding problems in local government.”

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