How a Staff Bank solution can help the NHS combat worker burnout

Burnout among healthcare professionals is a pressing issue affecting the NHS. The high demands of these critical, high-pressure roles, compounded by staff shortages and stressful environments, have significantly increased staff burnout rates.

At Retinue, we work with the NHS to develop and implement robust and fully optimised staff banks, to ensure a flexible workforce can be deployed as needed, playing a crucial role in addressing this challenge. Here's how:

Enabling Access to a Wider Talent Pool of Available Workers

One of the primary benefits of a comprehensive staff bank solution is that it enables controlled access to a larger and more diverse pool of healthcare professionals. By adopting and leveraging this flexible staffing model, the NHS can effectively:

• Fill Gaps Quickly: When permanent staff are overburdened, bank staff can step in, reducing the immediate pressure on existing employees and reducing over-reliance on agency staff.
• Ensure Sufficient Cover: Having a reliable pool of bank staff ensures there is adequate cover for staff shortages due to sickness or stress, thereby maintaining patient care without compromise.
• Increase Workforce Resilience: A broader talent pool means that there are more hands-on-deck to handle unexpected surges in patient numbers or other emergencies, without relying on agency cover.

Fairer Distribution of Workload

Burnout often results from an unfair distribution of work among healthcare staff. A robust and resilient bank solution can help distribute the workload more evenly by:

• Balancing Shifts: Bank staff can fill gaps in shift rosters, ensuring that permanent staff are not overworked.
• Flexibility in Scheduling: Staff can choose shifts that suit their availability, leading to a better work-life balance.
• Reducing Overtime: By having a pool of bank staff available, the need for overtime is minimised, which can significantly reduce fatigue and stress among permanent staff.

Ensuring Patient Care with Availability of Niche-Skilled Cover

Healthcare within the NHS is a diverse field requiring a range of specialised skills. A robust and agile bank solution – aimed at addressing staff burnout and shortages – can help the NHS to:

• Deploy Specialists Efficiently: Bank staff with specialised skills can bridge-the-gap and be brought in as required, without the need for permanent contracts and without the need for costly agency specialists.
• Support Continuing Education: Permanent staff can take advantage of training opportunities knowing that their duties are covered by competent bank staff.
• Improve Patient Outcomes: Having access to a reliable pool of niche-skilled workers ensures that patients receive the best possible care from professionals with the specific expertise needed, effectively filling any gaps in the roster.

Capturing Staff Feedback via Multi-Technology Channels

Technology plays a crucial role in modernising how staff wellbeing feedback is collected and addressed. At Retinue, we enable the NHS to capture constructive and meaningful feedback to drive continuous improvement. A comprehensive staff bank solution, combined with advanced technology, ensures the NHS can:

• Facilitate Real-Time Feedback: Mobile apps and online platforms allow staff to give feedback on their work conditions, stress levels, and overall satisfaction in real-time.
• Analyse and Act on Data: Regular feedback helps management identify stress points and address them proactively.
• Increase Engagement: Knowing that their feedback is valued and acted upon can boost staff morale and reduce feelings of burnout.

Fairer Pay

Feeling valued, along with fair and rewarding pay for increased workload is a significant factor in job satisfaction and preventing staff burnout. A resilient bank solution can contribute to fairer pay structures by offering:

• Competitive Rates for Bank Staff: Ensuring that bank staff are fairly compensated for their flexibility and the extra hours they work.
• Equitable Pay Across Roles: Standardising pay rates for similar roles and responsibilities, whether filled by permanent or bank staff.
• Incentive Programmes: Implementing incentive programmes for both permanent and bank staff can enhance motivation and reduce burnout.
• Higher Bank Utilisation over Agency Dependency: Prioritising fair pay for bank staff reduces reliance on agency workers, ensuring more consistent and fair compensation within the NHS.

Conclusion

Implementing a comprehensive staff bank solution within the NHS offers a holistic approach to addressing staff burnout. By accessing a wider talent pool and niche skills, ensuring fair distribution of work, leveraging technology for staff feedback, and promoting fairer pay structures, the NHS can create a more supportive, flexible, and sustainable working environment. This not only improves the well-being of healthcare professionals but also enhances the quality of care provided to patients, all while reducing the reliance on costly agency staff.

At Retinue, we are committed to partnering with the NHS to develop and implement these robust staff bank solutions, ensuring a healthier and more resilient healthcare system. Get in touch today to discuss a Retinue Staff Bank solution.