Staff motivation needed for NHS, says report

Date: 20/08/2009

Patient care in the NHS may be improved if staff are given a programme of incentives and recognition, a new report has outlined.

Occupational health specialist Dr Steve Boorman led a report for the government which found that staff with the health service are finding it hard to meet high targets due to their own poor health, which has been linked to the work they do.

Around 10.3 million days a year are lost to ill health, equating to around 10.7 days a year for each worker.

This is lower than any other public service, where a government-wide average of 9.7 days applies, showing the disparity between the two areas and perhaps further highlighting low staff motivation and morale.

"Nearly half of all NHS staff absence is accounted for by musculoskeletal disorders and more than a quarter by stress, depression and anxiety," the report continued.

"Most staff believe that their state of health affects patient care."

Daniel Hannan, a Conservative MEP, recently branded the NHS as a "60-year mistake" in an interview with Fox News, resulting in David Cameron announcing that the party was the best for the NHS' future.

Written by Peter Chad

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