In polling YouGov carried out for the Guardian most NHS staff think they have too little time to help patients and the quality of care the service provides is falling.
Medical and nursing groups said the “very worrying” findings showed that hard-pressed staff cannot give patients as much attention as they would like because they are so busy.
The survey showed that 71% of NHS staff who have direct contact with patients said they did not have the amount of time they would like to have to help them. A third (34%) felt they had “somewhat less than enough time” and 37% “far less than enough time” than they wanted. Almost a quarter (23%) felt they had the right amount of time while just 3% said they had “more time” than they wanted.
The polling firm also asked a sample of doctors, nurses and other staff who have worked in the NHS for at least five years if the time they have to spend with patients has got better or worse since 2018. Nearly three-quarters – 74% – replied “worse”, while just 2% said “better”.
Full story in The Guardian, 24 July 2023