NHS staff survey 2023: Record levels of discrimination

NHS staff in England are facing record levels of discrimination from the public, and more than one in five say they will look for a new job within the next year as issues including burnout, pay dissatisfaction and resourcing pressures persist.

The 2023 NHS staff survey, published this week, found that one in 12 respondents faced discrimination while treating patients – the highest proportion since this question was first asked in 2019.

Nearly 8.5% experienced discrimination from patients, service users or members of the public, while 9% experienced discrimination from managers, team leaders or colleagues.

For the first time, the 2023 survey asked about unwanted behaviour of a sexual nature in the workplace. Nearly 9% had experienced it from patients in the past 12 months and almost 4% from colleagues.

The NHS staff survey is one of the largest workforce surveys in the world and received responses from more than 700,000 NHS workers in autumn 2023 – a response rate of 48%.

Some 268 NHS organisations took part, including all 213 trusts in England.

Dr Navina Evans, chief workforce, training and education officer said: “It is very distressing that more than 58,000 NHS staff reported experiencing unwanted sexual behaviour from the public last year and such conduct should not be tolerated in the NHS.

“That is why the NHS launched its first ever sexual safety charter last year which provides clear commitments to improve reporting on unacceptable behaviour, as well as…