- Conference
- 2014 Health Care Service Group Conference
- Date
- 5 December 2013
- Decision
- Carried
Conference notes with concern the impact that staffing shortages in the NHS are having on workers’ lives. In particular, staffing shortages can impact on:
1)Flexible working requests not being accommodated by employers.
2)Staff with existing non-standard working patterns being pressurised into changing their working hours, which could create problems with care arrangements and other home commitments.
3)Training and learning opportunities being restricted where managers are unwilling to release staff because there is nobody to cover the work.
4)Staff feeling increasingly pressured into working additional unpaid hours to ensure that work is completed and that patient safety is not compromised;
5)Staff experiencing increasing levels of stress as work pressures impact negatively on their health and wellbeing.
Conference calls on the Health Care Service Group Executive to campaign to highlight the impact of staff shortages on the lives of all NHS workers, particularly the disproportionate impact this can have on women and other staff with caring responsibilities.