Ongoing staff shortages and a sense that the public negatively view the quality of service they provide is severely impacting staff morale in public health, a survey organised by trade union Fórsa suggests.
Tasc, which carried out the research on behalf of the union, found a belief there was a “disconnect” between management and staff, limited career development opportunities and a feeling their contribution was not appreciated among the other factors feeding into high levels of dissatisfaction.
The survey, which was based on responses of almost 3,800 health workers, found more than two thirds of the respondents (68 per cent) believed staff morale was either low (43 per cent) or terrible (25 per cent).
More than half (53 per cent) said morale was negatively impacting the quality of care being provided to patients and just over two thirds said the situation was contributing to them suffering from work-related stress.
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Almost half (48 per cent) said the situation had worsened over the past two years despite what the HSE and Department of Health say have been substantial increases in healthcare budgets and staff numbers.
Staff shortages persist in a wide range of health service areas, said senior Fórsa official Linda Kelly, and they “have really increased the pressure on health and social care staff, and that has placed a heavy toll on staff morale”.
“Unfortunately, the research confirms what our members have been talking about over the last couple years with increasing frequency,” she said.
“Diminishing morale among existing staff is leading to burnout, and we can see this especially among those with longer service and experience.
“When experienced staff retire, or leave employment for other reasons, it represents a very significant loss of skills, an increase in workload for remaining staff, which further diminishes morale, and the cycle then continues. That’s not sustainable,” she said.
The research was presented to delegates at the Fórsa health sector conference in Letterkenny on Thursday. Ms Kelly told those attending the event the results should serve as “a very loud alarm” for both the health service CEOs and the Minister for Health”.
