The second report from the NHS Confederation’s Health & Care Women Leaders Network (HCWLN) shows that the impact of the pandemic on the female health and care workforce has demonstrably worsened since the publication of its first report in summer 2020.
The report presents the findings of a survey commissioned by the network to find out how the impact of the pandemic on women working across health and care changed as the crisis progressed. In light of the findings from the latest survey, HCWLN makes new recommendations on what must be done to address key issues in this area.
The report shows more women are reporting an even greater negative impact on their physical and emotional wellbeing, although there have been improvements in some areas, including teamworking and increased feelings of camaraderie. The marked deterioration in the key areas of physical and emotional wellbeing, it states, cannot be ignored.
Key findings:
• More than 80% of respondents reported their job had a greater negative impact than usual on their emotional wellbeing as a result of the pandemic, and 65% said the same of their physical health
• Progress has been made with ensuring access to the right training and equipment to protect from infection
• Struggles with work-life balance continue, with an increase in non-work caring responsibilities
• 85.4% of respondents had received at least their first Covid vaccination
This survey highlights similar issue to those reported in the NHS Staff Survey 2020, published in March this year and makes an even stronger case to ensure the female health and care workforce is properly supported.
With 78 per cent of the health and care workforce being female, the impact of the pandemic on women needs to be considered as part of overall recovery plans. The recommendations included in the report can benefit the whole workforce, not just women.
The marked deterioration in the key areas of physical and emotional wellbeing lends weight to concerns that the health and care sector could see large numbers of staff choosing to leave their roles because of untenable pressure the pandemic is placing them under.
The network's chair Samantha Allen has written to every Chair, Chief Executive, Integrated Care Service or Primary Care Service lead across the NHS asking them to read the report and the supporting slide deck and consider the recommendations.
HCWLN says the Government must commit to supporting the workforce, through investment as well as initiatives tailored specifically to the needs of the female health and care workforce.
