NHS: Stress

The health and wellbeing of National Health Service staff is a priority. The Government is committed to publishing a 10 Year Workforce Plan to set out action to create a workforce ready to deliver the transformed service set out in the 10-Year Health Plan.

The 10 Year Workforce Plan will ensure the NHS has the right people in the right places, with the right skills to care for patients, when they need it.

NHS organisations are responsible for providing supportive working environments for staff, including occupational health provision and employee support programmes to help reduce work related stress in the workplace. At a national level, NHS staff have access to the National Staff Mental Health Treatment Service for more complex mental health support, including trauma and addiction.

The 10-Year Health Plan announced the introduction of Staff Treatment Hubs that will focus on mental health and musculoskeletal issues, the two main reasons for sickness absence in the NHS. In addition, we will launch a series of staff standards for modern employment. These will tackle the issues that really matter to staff such as support to work healthily and flexibly, and tackling violence, racism and sexual harassment in the workplace.