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Hospital staffing: Your stories | Hospital staffing: Your stories |
(35 minutes later) | |
Seventeen NHS hospitals in England have been ordered to take action by the Care Quality Commission because they are failing to provide safe staffing levels. | Seventeen NHS hospitals in England have been ordered to take action by the Care Quality Commission because they are failing to provide safe staffing levels. |
Labour, which released the information, said the findings reflected a "toxic" combination of cuts and reorganisation. | Labour, which released the information, said the findings reflected a "toxic" combination of cuts and reorganisation. |
The government said the number of NHS clinical staff had risen since 2010. | The government said the number of NHS clinical staff had risen since 2010. |
NHS staff and former workers have been sharing their stories with the BBC. | NHS staff and former workers have been sharing their stories with the BBC. |
Margaret Davies, retired NHS physiotherapist | Margaret Davies, retired NHS physiotherapist |
For the last 10 years of my career I was a senior clinical manager, before I retired four years ago. | For the last 10 years of my career I was a senior clinical manager, before I retired four years ago. |
It appeared that every time there were cuts the first to go were front line staff ie nurses, cleaners, porters etc. | It appeared that every time there were cuts the first to go were front line staff ie nurses, cleaners, porters etc. |
In the latter years administrative staff numbers rocketed to manage the targets imposed by the last government and the ill-fated national IT project. | In the latter years administrative staff numbers rocketed to manage the targets imposed by the last government and the ill-fated national IT project. |
I feel NHS Trusts should differentiate between the numbers of clinical staff and non-clinical staff. | I feel NHS Trusts should differentiate between the numbers of clinical staff and non-clinical staff. |
But that would probably mean even more non-clinical staff being employed to collate the figures. | But that would probably mean even more non-clinical staff being employed to collate the figures. |
I used to train people and worked in a lot of departments. | I used to train people and worked in a lot of departments. |
When I started, some departments had four or five people. Eight years later there were 30 or 40 people - all admin staff brought in to collate data for the government. | When I started, some departments had four or five people. Eight years later there were 30 or 40 people - all admin staff brought in to collate data for the government. |
Pete, former NHS nurse | Pete, former NHS nurse |
Staffing numbers have almost halved since I started training in 1989. | Staffing numbers have almost halved since I started training in 1989. |
Throw in the extra paperwork demanded nowadays, and you can see why the standard of care has fallen drastically over the last 20 years. | Throw in the extra paperwork demanded nowadays, and you can see why the standard of care has fallen drastically over the last 20 years. |
Currently I'm not working as a registered nurse following a bout of depression brought on by work-related stress. | Currently I'm not working as a registered nurse following a bout of depression brought on by work-related stress. |
I think I was stressed for most of my 10 years in the NHS and it got worse as the staffing numbers were reduced. | I think I was stressed for most of my 10 years in the NHS and it got worse as the staffing numbers were reduced. |
Reduced staffing levels can be blamed for many of the problems or criticisms related to the NHS; people feel frustrated that they can't do their jobs properly, as they are given more work to do. | Reduced staffing levels can be blamed for many of the problems or criticisms related to the NHS; people feel frustrated that they can't do their jobs properly, as they are given more work to do. |
I have been doing private care work for the last six months and it is much less stressful; there is more time to spend with patients and a smaller workload. | I have been doing private care work for the last six months and it is much less stressful; there is more time to spend with patients and a smaller workload. |
I am viewing this work as a stepping stone to going back to being a registered nurse, but I do worry if I am going in the right direction as I don't want a relapse. | I am viewing this work as a stepping stone to going back to being a registered nurse, but I do worry if I am going in the right direction as I don't want a relapse. |
Anon, NHS nurse | Anon, NHS nurse |
I am a nurse within the NHS. In the last year, my team has been amalgamated with two other teams due to cuts in nursing staff. | I am a nurse within the NHS. In the last year, my team has been amalgamated with two other teams due to cuts in nursing staff. |
When we are fully staffed we can just about provide the care we are paid to provide. | When we are fully staffed we can just about provide the care we are paid to provide. |
But sickness and absence have a large impact on the service we provide. | But sickness and absence have a large impact on the service we provide. |
As well as general sickness there is also a lot of people off with stress due to the increased work pressures. | As well as general sickness there is also a lot of people off with stress due to the increased work pressures. |
The main team that I am in does not have a budget for agency or bank staff when people are off sick. We just have to cover for the absences and try to fit our other work in as well. | The main team that I am in does not have a budget for agency or bank staff when people are off sick. We just have to cover for the absences and try to fit our other work in as well. |
I am currently looking for other jobs, both inside and outside the medical profession. | I am currently looking for other jobs, both inside and outside the medical profession. |
Interviews by Alex Emery |
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