Hospital staff’s morale in spotlight
Last updated at 11:33, Thursday, 25 October 2012
SURVEY findings in which staff from the West Cumberland Hospital and Cumberland Infirmary rated its hospitals among the worst in the country are being tackled by health chiefs.
Responses from staff to the national satisfaction survey (2011-2012) ranked the hospitals in the bottom 20 per cent.
A large proportion said they would not recommend North Cumbria University Hospitals Trust – which runs the hospitals – as a place to work or receive treatment. Many also raised concerns about the fairness and effectiveness of incident reporting and communication issues.
This month’s Trust board meeting, held at West Cumberland Hospital, heard that an action plan to address issues has been developed to rectify the concerns.
Regarding communication issues, informal walkabouts have started with Ann Farrar, the interim chief executive of the Trust (from Northumbria Healthcare, the Trust currently taking over the two hospitals). Managers and directors are also to spend a day a week at the Whitehaven hospital.
On staff recommending the Trust as a place to work/receive treatment, the organisation is to promote its safety and quality priorities and a new system has started to better understand mortality rates at the hospitals and case notes are being reviewed.
Regarding management support concerns, there is to be a review of ward manager and head of service needs and a development day is to be held.
Systems are also to be established regarding the effectiveness of procedures to report incidents at the hospitals including review meetings with key staff and looking at how those staff provide feedback to employees at ward level.
The Trust Board on Tuesday welcomed the action plan and the measures that have been put in place.
The NHS National Staff Survey was sent out towards the end of last year to around 850 randomly selected members of staff out of the 4,000 employed by the trust and there was a 58 per cent response rate.
The North Cumbria Trust scored well for fewer staff than average having to work extra hours, equality and diversity training and flexible working.
A full report will go the next month’s Trust board meeting at the Cumberland Infirmary.
First published at 11:11, Thursday, 25 October 2012
Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk
I am not surprised at all about low morale. I remember a time when West Cumberland Hospital was part of West Cumbria Health care trust. Staff enjoyed work satisfaction, and morale was very high.
It all changed with trust merger with Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle.If new managements wants to improve staff morale, than only thing they need to do, is to say very publicly, that yes, West Cumberland hospital has a future, and all the acute services provided at present, are safe and secure.Mangers must start recruiting all the necessary staff, not on locum or temporary contract, but on permanent contract, based at West Cumberland Hospital.
That will also improve efficiency and safety.
Have your say
Why has it taken until the results of this years survey are known, for them to develop an action plan, Morale at this trust has been going downhill for years.
Posted by Vicki on 25 October 2012 at 17:35