Workforce, airborne transmission, and wilful neglect (BMJ, 24 March 2022)

Summary

Earlier this month The BMJ and the Nuffield Trust hosted a roundtable discussion about the workforce crisis. It took in a wide range of perspectives, but the message was clear: the workforce crisis is urgent, it is affecting staff morale and wellbeing, it is damaging patient care, and it requires immediate action. It’s not just a UK problem; it’s a global crisis, but some countries are better at recognising the relation between staff morale and wellbeing, better patient care and economic growth. Simply put, your economy won’t grow if your population is unhealthy; your population won’t be healthy if your health professionals are demoralised and unwell.