PCT scores well on 26 areas according to staff

The survey was sent to 495 employees last autumn.

It asked questions on 26 key areas including work life balance, training, appraisals, health and safety, management and job satisfaction.

In the 26 key indicators, areas where the PCT performed well include the number of staff having health and safety training, levels of work-related injuries, incidences of bullying or harassment from patients or relatives, flexible working, the availability of hand washing materials and a low number of staff intending to leave their job.

The survey highlighted some areas where the PCT needs to make improvements, and these include the perception that it is taking action against violence and harassment, encouraging staff to report errors, near misses or incidents, and ensuring a good work life balance for staff. Work to tackle these issues is now underway.

A total of 391 NHS Trusts nationally took part in the survey, with over 150,000 staff responding.

Chief executive of the Hastings and Rother PCT, Nick Yeo, said: "This annual survey is always valuable as it allows us to identify areas where we need to improve our working conditions for staff and put actions to do this in place.

"Although we've not scored as highly as the predecessor organisations did in previous years, it's important to remember that we'd been through a significant reconfiguration in the months leading up to the survey.

"Work to address the issues raised is already underway, and I do believe that we're moving forward and making considerable improvements which will have a positive impact on the working lives of our staff."