Report warns Welsh care staff increasingly tired

A report looking at the range of support available to help NHS health and care staff maintain their mental health and wellbeing has been launched by the Welsh NHS Confederation.

NHS Organisations, Royal Colleges and other professional bodies are concerned that staff have become increasingly tired, exhausted, and traumatised by their experience.

That means both the direct and indirect impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic have led to some of the highest staff absence rates on record in the Welsh NHS, sometimes reaching over 10% during the second wave and significantly higher in some critical parts of the NHS.

The report calls for all staff who are struggling to cope with their mental wellbeing to seek and access the support they need.

Darren Hughes, director of the Welsh NHS Confederation said: ‘We are extremely concerned that a lot of NHS and care staff across Wales might be suffering in silence.

‘Across the NHS we recognise that our staff have truly gone above and beyond in the past 12 months, often at their own personal cost. It is therefore vital that we continue to provide as much support as we can to them over this time.

‘These are unprecedented times, and we know that whatever support NHS organisations provide, some staff will inevitably need further support due to the ongoing strain placed on them and their families by this pandemic and what they have experienced.

‘That’s why it’s so important that we continue to encourage NHS staff to get in touch with those in your organisation who can offer you wellbeing support.

‘But, it is equally important we have a two-way dialogue with our staff and they provide feedback to ensure that services improve and are relevant to their needs.

‘While the vaccination programme and a decrease in cases might be a sign of better times to come for us all, the impact on our staff will be lasting. We are committed to supporting them both now and in the future.’

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