'NHS, social care staff emergency-level burnout is threatening patients' safety'

NHS and social care staff burnout are at an "emergency" level, threatening risks of more resignations and medical blunders, says a report published on Tuesday (8), identifying staff shortage as the main reason behind the crumble.

Calling for immediate action to support the exhausted staff who have worked throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, a highly critical report by the Commons select committee that monitors the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said that workers are exhausted and overstretched.

Pointing out poor workforce planning as one of the main problems, the report states there is no accurate forecast of how many staff the NHS need for the next five to 10 years. The MPs also claimed workforce policy is dictated by the money available, not the needs of the services.

“Workforce burnout across the NHS and care systems now presents an extraordinarily dangerous risk to the proper functioning of both services,” said Jeremy Hunt, the chair of the committee, adding that staff face unacceptable pressure with “chronic excessive workload identified as a key driver.”

Hunt also said that unless the government and NHS make changes to ensure full staffing levels, the huge backlog of healthcare that has built up as a result of Covid-19 disruption will remain a problem for years.

(Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

As per the figures due out on Thursday (10), the number of people waiting for hospital treatment in England has exceeded five million for the first time, The Guardian reported.

Reacting to the report, Liz Stavacre, an intensive care nurse, said on BBC Radio 4 Today that her unit had seen a lot of resignations, including people leaving nursing

altogether "because they are so burnt out and can't deal with it anymore.”

An NHS spokesperson said that health service staff have “moved heaven and earth to care for their patients during the worst pandemic in a century, and they rightly now need comprehensive support and backing.”

Commenting on the report, the DHSC said it recognises the pressures that staff have faced during this time and “the government is doing everything it can to support their wellbeing, including through £37m this year to fund staff mental health hubs, a dedicated helpline and a 24/7 text support services.”

“The government has backed the NHS at every turn in its fight against Covid-19, providing health and care services with an extra £92bn and giving councils £4.6bn to help them meet additional demands on social care.”