Clinical staff at Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT) have voiced fears about staffing levels and workplace pressures in a survey carried out by the GMB union.
According to the findings, 90pc of mental health nurses and practitioners reported unsafe staffing levels, contributing to stress, burnout and concerns about patient care.
Hellesdon Hospital (Image: Newsquest)
NSFT provides mental health, learning disability and substance misuse services within the two counties.
It is home to the Wellbeing service in Norfolk and Waveney, Suffolk Wellbeing Service and Norfolk Recovery Partnership.
One GMB member said: “I am more concerned for patient safety at this stage in the CMHT (Community Mental Health Team).
“We are very short-staffed due to sickness and staff resigning and not being replaced.”
Ashley Foster, GMB regional organiser, said: “Our members are deeply committed to their jobs and their priority is the wellbeing and safety of their patients, who are often vulnerable.
“They work extremely hard to deliver the best possible care, but they are telling us that low staffing levels and management failure risk compromising patient safety.
Caroline Donovan, chief executive officer of Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (Image: Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust)
“As NHS England’s data shows, the trust is dysfunctional and its management is failing both staff and patients.”
The trust currently ranks 50th out of 58 community and mental health providers in NHS England’s league table and has received the lowest possible rating for patient safety.
Caroline Donovan, chief executive officer at NSFT, said: “We take all concerns relating to staffing, staff wellbeing and the quality of care we provide extremely seriously and continue to listen to and address concerns wherever they are raised.
“The safety of the people who use our services remains our highest priority and we are committed to ensuring they receive safe, high-quality care.
“We remain committed to listening to staff, working constructively with our trade union partners and continuing to improve services for the people and communities we serve.”
Recent Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspections have rated eight out of 11 of the trust’s services as ‘good’.