NHS staff unhappy working at new University Hospital of North Staffordshire
THOUSANDS of health staff have given their hospital the thumbs down as a place to work in a new national survey.
They say the University Hospital of North Staffordshire (UHNS) is worse than most other similarly-sized centres for allowing them a work-life balance and protecting them from bullying and harassment.
But in the annual poll of all NHS staff, the Hartshill complex is among the top hospitals which staff feel is good enough to treat their friends and relatives.
Workers were asked for their views on 38 aspects of their job and employer.
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They believed they were less engaged than the previous year and were more tempted to quit than the national average.
The results were also significantly below the national norm when asked whether there was good communication from their senior managers.
But the 7,000-plus workers are in the top 10 per cent of UK hospitals to believe their role makes a difference to their patients.
UHNS bosses blame some of the low scores on the work changes needed to move into the area's £400 million superhospital, which is nearly 300 beds smaller than the previous facilities.
Many who have not transferred to the facility have been switched to working in the community, or had to apply for jobs elsewhere in North Staffordshire's NHS.
The survey also covered the period when hundreds of nurses faced moving on to lower rankings in the profession and losing thousands of pounds a year from their salaries.
A small number on higher wages are also understood to have been made redundant, although those figures have yet to be made public.
However, Ian Syme, co-ordinator of the NHS campaigning body, North Staffordshire Healthwatch, said: "To blame moving into a new hospital that we've all known about for five years is a lame excuse for these low scores.
"I am particularly alarmed by the reference to bullying and harassment. This is something which affects morale and can have a huge knock-on effect, and morale is a major, major issue.
"But I'm pleased there is a positive mention when it comes to staff making a difference to their patients.
"It's a very important relationship between the patient and the carer, and it can speed up recovery time."
Trust chief executive Julia Bridgewater said: "I understand the reasons why our staff have not given us a higher rating compared to other hospitals nationwide.
"However, we knew 2011 was going to be a year of huge changes for them as the trust geared up for the move into the new building.
"The most important question for me is whether our staff would recommend UHNS if a friend or relative needed treatment and thankfully these survey results prove that they would."
Mrs Bridgewater added that because most moves into the new hospital were now complete, there would be an improvement in staff engagement results.
Comments
by 24Alan
Thursday, April 19 2012, 7:29AM
“It takes time to adjust to a new environment; I'm sure in a few months the North Staffs will rank as one of the finest. We don't want to go back to the old Work House do we?”
by stokeandvale
Wednesday, April 11 2012, 12:50PM
“Shufti.
Thank you, Sodexo must surely answer to the NHS afterall it is a NHS Hospital.
Do they have to apply to UHNS every so often to run the non-clinical side.
If things are that bad, another company may be given the contract.”
by truestokie
Wednesday, April 11 2012, 9:54AM
“We have the finest nurses and doctors, but sadly they are overwhelmed by jobsworth managers.
I have been in this Hospital and apart from the food (which was low down on my priorities at the time) have no complaints whatsoever.
If the professionals ran this Hospital it would be far superior than now.”
by shufti
Wednesday, April 11 2012, 9:48AM
“Stokeandvale. Sodexo are a private company bought in to run most of the non-clinical services,they give very poor quality whilst charging the earth, at the same time treating their staff like dirt,and don't do anything that could not be done if they were not in position, they really are the modern leeches of the N H S.”
by chris23522
Wednesday, April 11 2012, 12:17AM
“The working situations in the now hospital are madnes. The over sized wards and reduced staff numbers is a bad situation waiting to happen. There are some fab staff in the system and its a matter of time before they leave. I dont feel everything can be blamed on Sodexo although the food could and should be better. I blame ivory tower staff who habve no idea what really goes on in th really world. If staff thought they could give honest opinions without back lash things might be different. Some thing needs to be changed with staff shortages on wards before it to late.”
by stokeandvale
Tuesday, April 10 2012, 9:52PM
“Who is/are Sodexo?”
by shufti
Tuesday, April 10 2012, 2:21PM
“The staff believe their role makes a difference despite the management not because of it, we have the most dedicated clinical and non-clinical staff in the country who are in the main proud to do what they do but in a lot of cases are undermined by those above who think they know better but so obviously do not, the first world war saying put it best "Lions led by donkeys".
Most non-clinical staff can explain their feelings of dejection in one word, "SODEXO", the most unwecome guest at the party, they are probably on their own, the main reason why employees want to quit, if it were not for the burden of SODEXO most staff would, like the mangement be looking excitingly at the move to the new hospital.”
by android789
Tuesday, April 10 2012, 1:41PM
“I am due have an operation next month I will see and let everyone know what the staff attitude is like to myself and other's, then we will see if they have anything to moan about,i was in a span new place of work.”