A historian has been awarded £1.29m for a research project
Dr Kristin Hussey – who will lead a research study into the impact of working night shifts(Image: Amelia Read/Getty)
How can the night shift at our hospitals be improved for thousands of workers? A new £1.29m study led by a Newcastle University lecturer is now set to examine the issue and explore the impact on staff over generations.
Dr Kristin Hussey has been awarded the grant by the Wellcome foundation. The study will see researchers “take a three-pronged approach” – including by exploring the lived experiences of those working overnight, what current policies are, and what the scientific and medical research about this shows.
They will work with three NHS trusts in our region – Northumbria Healthcare, Newcastle Hospitals and Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear. Major nursing schools at Northumbria and Edinburgh Napier universities are also involved.
Dr Hussey, who is a lecturer in environmental history, said: “I’m excited to be able to demonstrate that humanities research can make a real-world, practical contribution to health and wellbeing. By bringing together historical research, and insights from night shift workers in the North East alongside NHS Trusts, educational institutions and policymakers, we’ll be developing practical approaches aimed at improving the well-being of night shift workers in British hospitals.”
The project will be titled: “The Night Shift 1850-present: Re-imagining sleep, work and wellbeing for healthcare professionals in English and Scottish Hospitals.” It will examine how “long-standing work cultures” may have “normalised unsafe and unsustainable working conditions” for those in hospitals.
The project will kick off in January 2027 and last more than five years. Researchers will work with hospital staff to “develop prototype methods” of improving “night-working culture”. The research team will also work with the Royal College of Nursing to produce a public exhibition and events programme.
Prof Alison Steven, professor of research in nursing and health professions education at Northumbria University, added: “I’m delighted to support this fascinating and important project led by Dr Hussey, which brings a fresh historical perspective to night shift working.
“Night shift working is an area I know well through my previous research and current Workforce Voices work into NHS workforce fatigue. I look forward to seeing it translate into practical change for today’s NHS staff.”
Professor Vari M Drennan, Chair, Royal College of Nursing (RCN) History of Nursing Forum, said: “I am delighted that the RCN History of Nursing Forum is collaborating with this project. The history of night shifts has rarely been the focus of study, and this project will uncover important information about this integral part of nurses’ lives and nursing.
“Greater understanding of the history and context of night shift work will enable us to better support nursing staff across the UK through the RCN’s current work on policy and professional guidance.”
Dr Emily Rainsford, research and evidence lead at Insights North East, said: “At Insights North East we bridge the gap between academic evidence and policy making. We are excited to work with Dr Hussey on this project to support the work on integrating and translating the findings into actionable insights for the right people at the right level in the policy ecosystem.
“We also look forward to contributing to the broader understanding of how history as a discipline can have an impact on current policy making.” The research is funded by Wellcome – which supports research in the health and life sciences field.
Thomas Bray, senior research manager at Wellcome, said: “This highly innovative research will generate crucial new insights into the experiences of hospital workers on the night shift, particularly by illuminating the historical, social and political contexts. We are delighted to support Dr Hussey’s project.
“The bold, creative approach, alongside engagement with today’s healthcare workers, is a great example of how humanities research can help support breakthroughs that improve health for everyone.”
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