Responding to the publication of the 2025 NHS England staff survey, Dr Clare McNaught, President of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh said:
"The 2025 NHS England Staff survey once again demonstrates that working conditions in the NHS are increasingly intolerable.
"Most people enter the medical and nursing professions through a strong vocation to care for those in need. It is shocking, therefore, to note that only 36% of employees look forward to coming to work and only a third of employees feel valued by the organisation they work for.
"This may in part relate to the perceived lack of opportunities for staff career development, which dropped from 48% to 26% in the last year.
"It is also concerning that the percentage of staff who feel able to speak up and raise patient safety concerns in their organisation declined from 61.8 per cent in 2024 to 60.3 per cent, with only 37% feeling confident that their organisation would address any concerns raised.
"More must be done across NHS England to engender a more open and transparent NHS that is based on learning and trust and to support and value the greatest asset of the NHS, which is undoubtedly the staff who work in it.
"We are keen to continue to work with the Government and NHS policy makers to address these issues and to help promote a workplace culture that supports staff wellbeing and patient safety. In the meantime, we have developed a range of resources which can be accessed through SupportEd page of our website to help support our members and fellows in the crucial roles that they perform."