NHS Reports an 11% Decrease in Hospital Productivity Following Lockdown
The report highlighted that the pandemic had a significant and lasting impact on NHS services, leading to a decrease in productivity.
NHS England reported that productivity in hospitals is still lower than pre-pandemic levels, with acute care productivity down by 11 percent post-lockdown.
An analysis of productivity in the acute hospital care sector revealed an 11 percent decrease from pre-pandemic levels.
The report highlighted the significant impact of strikes by NHS staff in 2023/2024, costing around £1.2 billion and reducing overall activity.
Even after adjusting for the effects of industrial action, productivity remained 8 percent lower compared to pre-lockdown levels.
Factors contributing to this decline included longer patient stays, constraints on out-of-hospital care capacity, particularly in social care, and the slow recovery of care at home since 2022.
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The report highlighted persisting high temporary staffing costs, attributed to increased sickness and absence rates among staff, and the need to cover for industrial action.
‘Staff Burnout’
The report highlighted research from various NHS organizations and bodies, indicating a decline in productivity post-lockdown. Factors contributing to this decline included turnover of experienced leadership, staff burnout, and reduced engagement.
The report noted that while sickness absence rates had decreased from their peak during COVID-19, they remained higher than 2019 levels, with a growing proportion of stress-related absences.
A survey by NHS Charities Together showed that a significant percentage of NHS staff experienced anxiety, low moods, and exhaustion.
Another survey by UNISON revealed that 31 percent of NHS staff had taken time off work due to mental health issues in the past year.
The report outlined plans to implement the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan, providing mental health support for staff, and utilizing the National Retention Programme to enhance staff engagement and retention.
Aging NHS Estate
The report also pointed out other factors affecting productivity, such as an aging population requiring more complex care, an aging NHS estate leading to maintenance backlogs, and accumulating technology debt.
Efforts to upgrade and modernize NHS facilities are ongoing, with significant investments aimed at improving infrastructure and addressing maintenance challenges.
