Media Release
Date: 7 March 2024
RUH in the top 20 best NHS hospitals to work for in the country
Staff at the Royal United Hospitals Bath (RUH) NHS Foundation Trust have rated it as one of the best hospitals to work for in the whole of England and top three in the south west, in the latest national survey.
Nearly 2,500 people – or 68% of those surveyed - said they would recommend the RUH as a place to work. That's 600 more than the previous year, and puts the RUH 18th out of 122.
The RUH's NHS Staff Survey results also show that an increase of nearly 500 people say they look forward to going to work, 530 more said they feel trusted to do their job, and 440 more said they are able to make improvements happen.
The RUH is 6th nationally for colleagues saying they have frequent opportunities to show initiative, and 8th for being kind and understanding towards each other.
Chief Executive Cara Charles-Barks said: "This latest set of survey results gives us a lot to feel really proud of. "I'm delighted that our colleagues have given us such positive feedback about what it's like to work at the RUH. "We are always working hard to make improvements, and this shows that we are making a difference."
The annual NHS Staff Survey takes place in autumn, and it is one of the largest workforce surveys in the world. The results from 2023's survey were released this week and they capture a picture of what work is like for staff in different parts of the NHS.
At the RUH, the results are used to inform what is working well and identify where working life can be further improved. In the last year, progress has included improving staffing levels, providing new training opportunities, and developing tools to prevent staff being subjected to violence and aggression from patients and relatives.
The results show there is more to be done to ensure that staff report violence or harassment when it happens – and a new reporting platform will be launched soon.
More improvements are on the horizon too, including a transformation of the restaurant, more preventative health and wellbeing support, and a continued focus on ensuring people have the opportunity to grow in their roles.
Cara added: "We know that providing a better experience at work has a direct impact on the quality of the care we provide.
"That's why our goal is to continue creating the conditions for everyone to perform at their best. This feedback gives us really useful insight in how we can keep working together to achieve that."
ENDS