Clinical Research Directory

Burden for STaff Working in the NHS

The COVID-19 crisis began in China in December 2019 and was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation on March 11th 2020. The pandemic has changed the way that clinicians interact with and treat patients overnight. Staff within the NHS will be under high levels of stress due to the increased needs and worse outcomes of work as they are shielding or self-isolating and may feel helpless and guilty. The psychological impact of the pandemic will be prolonged and varied. It is vital that Investigators increase understanding as much as possible to support NHS staff. The aim of this survey is to examine the possible mental health burden on NHS staff as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and how these change as the pandemic progresses. By understanding these effects, it will allow researchers to identify recommendations to allow support mechanisms to be put in place for NHS staff, to better manage this and future pandemics and similar crises. Investigators are aiming to sample several cohorts of NHS staff including a subset of staff who are shielding. Staff will be asked to complete a series of online surveys at multiple timepoint: on study initiation, 1 month later and then 3 months after the pandemic has ceased in the UK. Additional timepoints may be added depending on the length and severity of the pandemic. The main outcomes will be tracking changes in mental health measurements at the pre-defined timepoints. This work will allow Investigators to produce recommendations about the increased mental health support that NHS staff will need. If a need is demonstrated then an interventional research project will be designed and implemented.