Local NHS Staff Second Happiest in The Country


Survey finds eight out of ten recommend their workplace


Majority of HRCH staff work at the Heart of Hounslow on Bath Road

The local NHS Trust has been ranked as having the second-most satisfied staff in the country in a recent survey.

In a health service plagued by chronic short-staffing and overwork, Hounslow and Richmond Community Healthcare (HRCH) appears to be bucking the trend with eight out 10 staff recommending it as a good place to work and receive treatment.

The results of the survey compare well to the national average, where only six out of ten staff were willing to recommend their workplace.

The Trust runs community health services for more than 515,000 people living in the London boroughs of Hounslow and Richmond-upon-Thames. HRCH covers most services outside hospital or GP surgeries. They provide district nursing services at homes, physiotherapy and rehabilitation, audiology, learning disability services, children’s nurses and urgent care at West Middlesex Hospital in Isleworth wiith approximately 1,140 staff across 16 sites, and treating an average of 1,765 patients per day.

The survey which is conducted annually nation-wide included 90 questions, in which the Trust came top in the country for 18.

Results also improved in 62 questions, with two-thirds of the overall staff retinue filling out the survey.

A spokesman said the improvement was down to new programmes like the introduction of mental health first aid training for staff to help colleagues support one another, as well as the likes of yoga, fitness and mindfulness classes.

He said, “We also receive very positive feedback from our patients. In the past year we had 9,565 formal compliments for our services from members of the public.”

Trust chief executive Patricia Wright said: “Most of our results are overwhelmingly positive, but our trust board recognises there are areas in which we can improve to benefit our people and the patients we care for.

Ged Cann - Local Democracy Reporter

April 19, 2019