Staff Wellbeing

Why staff wellbeing matters

Staff wellbeing has a direct impact on how healthcare systems work and the quality of care people receive. When staff feel healthy and supported, they are more likely to:

• stay in their roles
• manage stress
• provide compassionate, person‑centred care

Wellbeing and health inequalities

NHS Scotland staff can also be affected by health inequalities, both in their own personal and working lives and in the communities they work in.

National strategies and resources, including the National Wellbeing Hub, highlight the importance of:

• supporting staff health and wellbeing
• promoting Fair Work First
• using inclusive employment practices

This includes:

• fair pay
• values‑based recruitment
• a diverse workforce
• opportunities for young and vulnerable groups
• strong systems to protect staff wellbeing

Current challenges

Rising workloads, staffing shortages, and system pressures have led to poorer physical health and poorer mental health. Many staff experience:

• high stress
• burnout
• psychological distress

Impact on care and the workforce

Poor staff wellbeing affects:

• patient safety
• patient satisfaction
• patient outcomes

It also leads to:

• higher sickness absence
• staff leaving the profession

This creates more pressure on remaining staff.

Supporting a sustainable workforce

EiC works with the Healthcare Staffing Programme (HSP) to:

• support implementation of the Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Act 2019
• help build a safe, sustainable workforce

Clinical supervision enables staff to reflect on their practice, build confidence and improve the quality of care they deliver. Public Services Delivery Scotland hosts several resources to support staff to engage with supervision appropriate to the requirements of their role.