Several investigations have raised concerns about the quality of care provided in inpatient mental health wards in the UK’s National Health Service (NHS). Their accounts suggest that staff and patient morale should be seen as interlinked, suggesting there is scope for interventions to benefit both. Patient views about the factors impacting on staff morale on inpatient wards are similar to those of staff in qualitative studies. Administrative duties, staff shortages and detrimental effects of violent incidents on the ward were seen as compromising staff members’ ability to be involved with patients’ lives and care. Some participants also described modifying their own behaviour because of concerns about staff well-being. They tended to perceive ward staff and patients as closely and reciprocally linked, with staff morale having a significant impact on patient well-being and vice versa.
Participating patients described observing staff closely and feeling concerned at times about their well-being and the impact on them of stress and adverse incidents. Patients valued staff who worked together as a cohesive team, treated them as individuals, practised in a collaborative way and used enabling approaches to support their recovery.
A thematic approach to analysis was used, supported by NVivo 10 software. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with three patients on each ward. MethodsĪ qualitative investigation was conducted using purposive sampling to select seven inpatient wards in England representing various subspecialties. This study aimed to explore staff morale and staff-patient relationships from a patient perspective. There has been little research into patients’ views on staff morale and on how it may impact on their care. Staff value having a voice in their organisations, and say that they would like more interaction with patients and processes to reduce violent incidents on wards.
Two point hospital staff morale professional#
Recent research has suggested that robust support systems and conditions that allow staff to exercise professional autonomy in their clinical work result in better staff morale.
Mental health inpatient wards are stressful places to work and concerns have been raised regarding quality of patient care and staff wellbeing on these wards.