Staff Wellbeing
Palliative care work is often viewed as rewarding, and a source of meaning and purpose for palliative care staff. However, alongside positive experiences, stress, distress and burnout are common. Some stressors are typical of those identified in many healthcare settings such as unmanageable workloads, shift work, staff shortages, patient turnover, and lack of training on specific issues. Stressors specific to palliative care, include regular exposure to death, loss and grief. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated these stressors and increased the need for staff support.
Healthcare professionals have high rates of sickness absence, burnout, and distress compared to other sectors.1- Healthcare staff absence rates are 5.4% in England; 5.7% in Scotland and 6.9% in Wales.
- Anxiety, stress, depression are consistently the most reported reasons for sickness absence.
- Stress and depression has been found to directly affect intention to leave the nursing profession.
- Poor mental health in the NHS is estimated to cost £1749-£2174 per employee per year.
1FOOTNOTE — to be supplied