Published on: 13 March 2025
NHS staff in South Tyneside and Sunderland have put their place of work above others across the country, with more than ever giving their views about life on the frontline of healthcare.
The national NHS Staff Survey results have been shared countrywide after colleagues were asked to give their views.
In the 2024 results, South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust (STSFT) has seen an increase in the number of workers who gave their views compared to previous years. In the latest study, 55% (4,734) of colleagues filled in the survey. This is higher than the average for NHS organisations which were polled across the UK (49%).
The Trust offers care and services to care for people in the community, including patients’ homes, as well as in hospitals and other centres. It employs around 8,500 people. Its results were compared against other acute and community trusts.
STSFT has also seen it record higher than national average scores across all seven of the People Promise areas. This is the pledge to work together to improve the experience of working in the NHS for everyone.
Figures show workers for the Trust have rated it significantly higher in three of these areas compared to others.
These were staff morale, with a strong response to a question around staffing being at the level they can do their job properly and being able to meet conflicting demands; flexibility, with people noting the commitment to supporting a healthy work and home-life balance and how managers are approachable; and always learning, where staff noted how they were well supported to develop their potential and had access to opportunities.
These are the results, with each given a rating out of 10 and the national score in brackets:
- We are compassionate and inclusive – 7.33 (7.21)
- We are recognised and rewarded – 6 (5.92)
- We each have a voice that counts – 6.83 (6.67)
- We are safe and healthy – 6.30 (6.09)
- We are always learning – 5.85 (5.64)
- We work flexibly – 6.49 (6.24)
- We are a team – 6.80 (6.74)
- Staff engagement – 6.92 (6.84)
- Morale - 6.20 (5.93)
During the last year the Trust has been spearheading a civility campaign with staff called Call it Out with the intention of making the Trust a better place to work and give people an avenue to raise concerns so they can be addressed. Call it Out gives workers a way to highlight an issue about bullying, rudeness, racism, sexual harassment, inappropriate behaviour of a sexual nature, violence and aggression.
It has seen incivility training offered across the board, with the drive set up in addition to other ways people can lodge a concern anonymously or with their manager.
Trust Chief Executive Ken Bremner MBE said:
"We’re pleased to see our survey results put us ahead of others across all seven areas.
"Our staff are our biggest asset and we know supporting them and making our Trust a good place to work directly links to the quality of care we offer our patients.
"We do a great deal of work to support our staff and that is born out in this survey.
"It is good to see they particularly recognise that we give them the chance to learn and develop, work flexibly wherever possible and do what we can to help strike a healthy work-life balance. This is all while our services are in huge demand and it has certainly been another busy year for us. Our teams work very hard to deal with the pressures we face and we are grateful for their dedication.
"In amongst these results, there is lots of detail, so while we’re pleased to see our ratings are up, there is lots of feedback to look at and act on. This is very important to us as an employer, as we want everyone who works for us to feel safe, welcome and supported in their role."
For a full rundown of the NHS Staff Survey results for 2024 visit: https://www.nhsstaffsurveys.com/
