Around half of staff said they felt unwell as a result of work-related stress.

The latest NHS staff survey shows a significant decline in the quality of patient care and the well-being of nurses and midwives.

Carried out between September and December 2022, the annual survey reveals that only 62% of nurses and midwives would be happy with the standard of care provided by their organisation should a friend or relative need treatment – this has fallen by a massive 12% in only two years.

Only a fifth (21.3%) of staff reported that there are enough staff at their organisation for them to do their job properly.

Just under half (44.8%) of nurses and midwives admitted to witnessing errors, near misses or incidents that could have hurt staff or patients in the last month.

These pressures are having a damaging impact on the health and well-being of NHS staff with around 50% of staff reporting feeling unwell as a result of work-related stress in the last 12 months.

Devastation.

Speaking about these new findings today, Patricia Marquis, RCN Director for England expressed concern over the pressures facing nursing staff: “Nursing staff are the bedrock of the NHS, and the largest profession within the service. Chronic staff shortages create stress and suffering for everyone in health care – day after day, week after week – it is patients who ultimately feel the impact of these compounding pressures.

“These findings lay bare not only the intensifying staffing crisis in our NHS, but the devastation that is waiting in the wings if action is not taken quickly.

Ms Marquis added, “The data on errors and incidents that could have hurt staff or patients within the NHS is another urgent reminder of the investment that the nursing workforce and its patients desperately need.

NHS workers across the UK are currently fighting for better pay and working conditions.

Strike action was called off last month after the government agreed to meet with health unions to negotiate improvements to pay and terms.