Burnout

Other factors contributing to the worsening mental health of NHS health workers include increased contact with very unwell patients (33%) and financial worries (23%). More than a quarter (26%) said the pandemic had placed them or their family in financial difficulties and eight per cent cited issues with sick pay. Just under 20% experienced difficulty taking annual leave.

Health workers also highlighted the physical strain of wearing protective safety kit constantly, such as thirst and tiredness, as well as the burden of coping with deaths of patients, sleepless nights and fears over infecting loved ones.

UNISON said the survey findings raised serious concerns that health service employees “are being pushed to the brink”. It called for free, round-the-clock telephone counselling to support those experiencing burnout​ and demanded the government extend its offer of free access to wellbeing apps for all health staff until at least the end of 2021. It also called for fast-track specialist treatment for those in crisis and a significant pay rise to boost morale (see Chapter 7).