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There is a “profound crisis” in NHS staff morale, a health leader has said.

Sir Ciarán Devane, chief executive of NHS Alliance, which represents NHS trusts, warned that action must be taken to protect workers from abuse and discrimination. And he said that staff should be shielded from “pressures created by the wider political climate”.

Frontline medics said that staff experience “vile behaviour” every day, with attacks, abuse and threats now “commonplace” in the NHS.

Sir Ciarán said that NHS employees from diverse backgrounds feel particularly under threat at present. “There is a very bleak picture emerging that is one of a profound crisis in the morale of NHS staff,” said Devane.“Protecting staff from all forms of abuse, discrimination and as far as possible the pressures created by the wider political climate is not optional — it is essential.”

Pointing to a rise in verbal aggression, discriminatory behaviour, physical violence and sexual misconduct directed at NHS staff, Devane added: “If we fail to safeguard the workforce, we fail patients.”

Calls for National Respect Campaign

NHS Alliance has called for a national campaign on respect for NHS workers.

The organisation asked health service leaders about their concerns surrounding staff morale.

One acute trust leader said: “Our people experience everything that’s going on in wider society, so there is no doubt, certainly for colleagues I work with, that people are experiencing racism, they’re experiencing the things that we’re seeing in terms of social fragmentation.”

Another a health service manager added: “The staff survey has taken a hit due to low morale and staff saying they don’t have a doable job.”

One leader said a drive to ever increasing levels of productivity and tighter finances has led to “significant damage to staff morale”.

Speaking ahead of the major annual conference, NHS ConfedExpo, Devane said: “Put bluntly, this cannot be allowed to continue, the NHS cannot function without its most valuable asset, its people.”

Dr Ian Higginson, president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, said: “Every day in our hospitals, staff experience absolutely vile behaviour from some members of the public. Physical attacks, verbal abuse, and threats of violence have become commonplace. We continue to hear deeply concerning accounts from our members about the abuse they face while caring for patients.

“While violence and aggression are problems faced by all NHS workers, the levels of racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia and all other forms of discrimination my colleagues face on a daily basis have become distressing and at times beyond belief.

“Driving this are societal issues which reach far beyond the doors of our departments. Meanwhile, the responses from employers and authorities often feel lacklustre.

“We support any measures or campaigns which would support our staff and stamp out this shocking abuse targeted at people just doing their jobs – people who have come to work to save lives.”

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “We have zero tolerance for NHS staff being abused or discriminated against. These everyday heroes go above and beyond to care for others – often in the most challenging of circumstances – and deserve to be respected and praised, not mistreated.

“That’s why alongside mandatory reporting and investigation of every incident of abuse or discrimination, we have accepted Lord Mann’s recommendations to strengthen protections even further. This includes holding NHS trusts accountable through a new staff standard focused on tackling racism.”

A spokesperson for NHS England said: “Any form of abuse against NHS staff is totally unacceptable and all local organisations must take a zero-tolerance approach to harassment, discrimination, racism and acts of violence – including police involvement and criminal prosecution where appropriate.

“The NHS is taking targeted action to support our staff, providing protection and comprehensive psychological support for people reporting concerns, and implementing the recommendations from Lord Mann’s review to tackle antisemitism and other forms of racism in the NHS.”