Stages of burnout in the NHS

Photo by Patrick Konior on Unsplash

A recent headline stated that ‘75% of NHS Staff are suffering burnout’. This followed a YouGov survey that found that 73-75% of NHS staff reported experiencing burnout or exhaustion at least some of the time, including 27% who feel this way “always” or “most of the time”. The 2023 NHS Staff survey found that 30.38% of NHS staff reported feeling burnt out because of their work; particularly affected were 21-30 year-olds, full time staff, patient facing staff and those with long term medical conditions.

These surveys relied on staff to define and report burnout.

But if the figure of over 30% who reported burnout is anywhere near close to correct, we have an epidemic in the NHS. 

Burnout is defined as a work-related state of complete physical, emotional, or mental exhaustion. It decreases motivation, lowers performance and produces negative attitudes towards self and others. Burnout will eventually prevent engagement in work, so that you no longer care about things you previously felt were important. You may experience an increasing sense of hopelessness.

It is normal to experience pressure at work and for many in the NHS, such pressures are commonplace. These pressures result from increasing workload, long working hours, staff absences, public disapproval of long waiting times, negative responses to whistleblowing and being unable to devote sufficient time to patient care. Dysfunctional organisational politics and a feeling of unfairness will often prevail.

At first, you cope with energy and optimism. However, as energy and optimism dwindle you begin to experience increasing stress. Unrelieved stress may lead to burnout, when it becomes increasingly difficult to cope with work or to feel enthusiasm for it. Eventually burnout becomes chronic, and work becomes impossible. Even after a period away from work you may suffer habitual burnout. Those with habitual burnout may never return to clinical work, suffering permanent damage and breakdown.

Whilst Mental Health interventions are essential tools for staff in the chronic burnout phase, the NHS has struggled to develop meaningful interventions for staff who are losing energy and enthusiasm as a result of workplace stress, but have not yet reached chronic burnout.

They will still be working, and if not burned out, they are definitely ‘smouldering’. 

It is hard for an NHS employee to report their loss of energy and enthusiasm and there is considerable stigmatisation in seeking help. But if you do, one of the following 4 options may be offered:

·      Referral to Occupational Health

·      Leadership training

·      CPD courses

·      Mental Health therapies

However, as an Executive Coach I would stress the value of early recognition and intervention where there is chronic stress, and a supportive compassionate organisational culture.

There is a significant body of evidence of the benefit of Coaching within the NHS and especially as a tool for engagement and career development for staff who are ‘smouldering’. It is also effective in chronic burnout alongside mental health therapies where these are appropriate. There is a detailed analysis of the evidence here.

‘Smouldering’ staff feel undervalued and may be acutely aware of their underperformance. They are often too busy to seek time to think, may lack the enthusiasm to understand how they can be helped and often feel ignored and marginalised. Coaching is essentially a listening intervention and is an opportunity for staff to understand their motivations and goals, to discover what is hindering them from achieving them, and to test ideas and solutions that are appropriate to them.

Although stressed NHS staff might benefit from leadership training, mental health interventions or additional CPD, many more would benefit from a trained listening intervention provided by an Executive Coach. Through it most of them will find direction and motivation.

In my opinion Executive Coaching should be added to the list of interventions that are routinely available to stressed NHS staff.  

There are many Executive Coaches who are trained and available to help NHS staff. Many of us offer a free no-obligation conversation so that you can determine if Coaching is what you need. If you think I might be able to help, please use the link here to book a discovery call with me. And if I am not the right coach for you, we can discuss who else might be a good fit.  

I send out occasional emails with links my latest content, blogs, vlogs, newsletters and podcasts, to share coaching ideas and resources, and issues of concern within Health Care.

If you would you like to receive these emails please sign up below. You can unsubscribe at any time