Staff morale at the Trust continues to be higher than the NHS national average, the survey found.
This year, even more staff (3,924) completed the survey, representing nearly half (47%) of the entire workforce – higher than the national average.
In total, the Trust saw sustained improvement in all seven areas of the NHS People Promise, with results ‘significantly higher’ than last year.
Staff gave more positive feedback in over 80% of the survey’s questions compared to 2022, with staff engagement also now higher than the NHS average.
The NHS People Promise was created with NHS staff and covers seven key areas to help improve staff experience:
| NHS Staff Survey results 2023 | ||
| NHS average | STSFT* | |
| We are compassionate and inclusive | 7.24 | 7.33 |
| We are recognised and rewarded | 5.94 | 6.02 |
| We each have a voice that counts | 6.70 | 6.80 |
| We are safe and healthy | 6.06 | 6.23 |
| We are always learning | 5.61 | 5.65 |
| We work flexibly | 6.20 | 6.33 |
| We are a team | 6.75 | 6.73 |
| * | = significantly higher than last year |
South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust employs around 8,500 people who work in its hospitals or out in the community delivering care in peoples’ homes.
Over the past two years the Trust has put a huge focus on improving staff experience, which is now one of its core strategic objectives filtering across all parts of the organisation.
Highlights from the 2023 survey where STSFT scored higher than the national average include:
- 91% of staff feeling trusted to do their job
- 88% of staff feeling encouraged to report errors, near misses or incidents
- 85% of staff having an appraisal
- 76% of staff agreeing that the care of patients is the Trust’s key priority
- 62% of staff now recommending STSFT as a place to work.
Reflecting on the results, leaders at STSFT are clear that there is still much more work to do to help improve staff experience in the organisation even further. Key priorities in the year ahead include a renewed focus to stamp out any sort of abuse in the workplace, including the launch of the NHS sexual safety charter and a new civility and respect campaign.
The Trust’s Chief Executive Ken Bremner MBE said: “It is reassuring to see that feedback from our staff continues to improve despite another exceptionally busy year and relentless pressures on our teams.
“We have been working hard to make sure our staff know their voice is valued and listened to and that they know they can have the confidence to raise anything concerning them. This survey is a good chance for them to do that and one of a number of ways we ask our colleagues to let us know how we’re doing.
“We know that a happy workforce has a direct impact on the quality of patient care and that starts with looking after our people. It is our job to listen and act on feedback so that we make sure everyone feels welcome, safe and supported at work.”
