SOM systematic review report on the mental health of nurses and midwives
The Society of Occupational Medicine is to launch a systematic review report on the mental health of nurses and midwives in April - undertaken by two respected Academic organisational psychologists and advised by Anne Harriss. Yesterday we had a review of recommendations with:
Dame Donna Kinnair, CEO RCN
Daniel Mortimer, CEO NHS Employers
Catherine Gamble, Kim Sunley, Denise Mclaughlin - RCN
Dr Crystal Oldman, CBE, CEO QNI
Anne Trotter, Assistant Director: Education and Standards NMC
Deepa Korea, CEO RCN Foundation
Imogen Landers, Laura Hyde Foundation
Shirley Baines, CEO Burdett Trust for Nursing
Julia Mingay, The Guild of Nurses
Faye McGuinness, MIND
Anne Armstrong, Chief Mental Health Advisor, Scottish Government
Gemma Stacey and Lottie Philips Girling, Florence Nightingale Foundation
Nursing and midwifery in the UK has now reached crisis point. The most recent NHS Staff Survey indicating that 43.5% of the 127,564 registered nurses and midwives in England who responded reported feeling unwell due to work-related stress. More than 10% of nurses have left the NHS over the previous three years, and there is a national shortage of midwives. Many nursing and midwifery posts remain vacant at a time where demand for healthcare is rising. This is in part associated with an ageing population and the number of people with long term conditions such as diabetes. Recruitment into vacant posts is important but the importance of staff retention is higher. Increasing staff retention will be reflected in a reduced need to recruit and train replacement staff.
The risk of mental health problems, burnout, and suicide ideation appears to be growing among NHS nurses and is in line with increasing demands and diminishing resources. The report will highlight serious implications for the wellbeing of the staff which impact on the quality of patient care. The report is important as nurses and midwives are the largest group of professionals delivering health care in the United Kingdom, the majority of whom practice within the NHS. These professionals have a vital role in delivering safe, effective health care to patients/clients and expectant and new mothers and their babies.