Staff survey: Best and worst for ‘recommending care’

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Newcastle came out top for this measure, with 90.5 per cent of staff happy with the standard of care.
Among the worst performers were North Cumbria University Hospitals Trust, Isle of Wight Trust, and Walsall Healthcare Trust

HSJ’s analysis of the staff survey has revealed which trusts are strongest and weakest according to the share of employees who would be happy with its care if a friend or a relative needed treatment.

The survey was carried out between September and December 2019 and 300 NHS organisations took part, including 229 trusts in England.

HSJ has analysed the shares of staff who agreed with the statement: “If a friend or relative needed treatment, I would be happy with the standard of care provided by this organisation”.

Of acute and combined acute/community trusts, The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals Foundation Trust came out top for this measure nationally, with 90.5 per cent of staff agreeing or strongly agreeing. This was followed by Alder Hey Children’s FT at 88.3 per cent and Northumbria Healthcare FT at 87.6 per cent.

Among the worst in the country for this measure was North Cumbria University Hospitals Trust, followed by Isle of Wight Trust. North Cumbria merged in October 2019 to form North Cumbria Integrated Care FT, had a small response rate, and a spokeswoman pointed out it was undergoing a high level of change when the survey went out.

Meanwhile, Lyn Simpson, North Cumbria’s chief executive said: “I’m confident that by working together closely with all of our staff, our clinical leaders and our staff representatives together, we can make rapid improvements.”

Chief executive of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals FT Dame Jackie Daniel said: “The insight we get from staff is invaluable and vital to us becoming a better employer and an even better trust.”

“I’m also pleased to see that we are placed amongst the top performing organisations for equality, diversity and inclusion and that our staff agree we are taking positive action on health and well-being,” Dame Jackie said.

“There are always areas where we have more work to do and I think this feedback can help us to set meaningful, considered priorities for action that will help everyone to flourish,” she added.

The regional breakdown includes acute trusts (which include children’s trusts) and acute and community trusts.

We have carried out separate analysis of mental health trusts, and results for standalone community and ambulance trusts are below.