More than 8 in 10 (84%) of
mental health staff say that their workload has increased, more than 7 in 10
(76%) say they have experienced cuts, with the quality of patient services in
decline, in the last three years.
Those are the findings of a
new report into working in Scotland’s Mental Health Services, by public
services union UNISON. The report See Us was compiled by the trade union
who represent workers in all the sectors which deliver services in mental
health – the NHS, councils and the third sector.
The trade union has been
doing survey work across its members who work in Mental Health and 84% reported
that they had increases in their workload in the last three years. 76% of staff
report cut backs in their workplaces in the last 3 years. Meaning staff spend
less time with each patient.
Staff said that cuts in
mental health services often go under the radar. They report that ‘it is
difficult to recruit and retain staff and jobs do not get refilled’ and
that ‘staff are leaving and not being replaced, or if replaced their position
is downgraded’ and that there is a freeze on vacant posts for both nursing and
social care, and jobs get re-graded and advertised at a lower levels to save
money.
Dave Watson, UNISON Scotland
head of bargaining and campaigns, said ‘This report should serve as a
warning. Mental health services remain the invisible part of the NHS. Yet one
in four of us will experience some kind of mental health problem in the course
of a year. Wherever and whoever we asked, whether it was a Psychiatric
Nurse on a hospital ward, or a Mental Health Officer working for a council –
they told the same story of workload increasing but resources being cut and
time with each patient going down. Staff are stressed because they don’t feel
that they are giving patients the service that they deserve or doing the work
they are capable of’
Dave Watson continued, ‘there
has been fantastic work by the See Me campaign in recent years to raise
the visibility and status of those with mental health issues. Today the staff
are saying See Us – and if we do that, and take their concerns on board
, we’ll have better more effective services for everyone.’
Quotes from mental health staff
include:
“(We) are
subjected to regular staff shortages and high stress.” – Community Psychiatric
Nurse
“I was off
work related stress for three months last year due to trying to do three
people's jobs to statutory deadlines and not succeeding.” - Mental Health
Officer
“Increased stress
levels as just don't have enough time to meet all deadlines. Also spending more
and more time on non patient related activities.” - Deputy Charge Nurse
“There is an
increase in the paperwork for statistical purposes.” – Registered Mental Nurse
“Higher caseloads
with fewer staff leads to higher stress and people being incompletely treated
reducing job satisfaction and increasing frustration.” – Occupational Therapist
Notes to Editor
·
UNISON
is the largest trade union in NHS Scotland. We represent mental health staff in
NHS, voluntary and private sectors
·
The
full report can be read here http://unison-scotland.org.uk/publicworks/SeeUs_MentalHealthStaffSurvey_March2015.pdf
·
This report is the result of work carried
out by UNISON Scotland amongst our members who work delivering Scotland’s
mental health services; acute wards, in the community, working for the NHS,
Local Authorities and the Third Sector. It aims to give expression to the
concerns they have in their working life and for the services they
provide.
For further
information contact
·
Danny
Phillips, UNISON Scotland, communications officer 0141 342 2877 / 07944 644 110
·
Dave
Watson, UNISON Scotland, head of bargaining and campaigns 0141 342 2840 / 07958
122409
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