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A mixed-methods study examining the quality of working life, wellbeing and coping strategies of health and social care workers in the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Key messages
Policy implications
Gaps
Commentary
This study provides a detailed account of how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the working lives of health and social care staff. It documents high levels of burnout, declining mental wellbeing and the cumulative impact of sustained pressure during crisis conditions. Participants described how staffing shortages and job insecurity intensified workloads and reduced the capacity of services to meet demand. These pressures also affected morale and the ability of workers to provide the quality of care they aspired to deliver.
From a care equity perspective, the findings highlight how workforce strain can deepen inequities within care systems. Workers in lower-paid or less secure roles faced greater exposure to stress and burnout, while service users experienced variable support depending on staffing levels and workforce stability. These dynamics risk reinforcing uneven experiences of care across settings.
Overall, the study stresses the importance of workforce wellbeing as a foundation for equitable care. Addressing mental health, pay and staffing issues is essential not only for supporting workers, but for sustaining fair and reliable health and social care services in the longer term.
A study examining safety inequities experienced by people with learning disabilities in English health and social care, drawing on lived experiences from focus groups and patient feedback narratives.
A systematic review examining interventions designed to reduce inequities in dementia diagnosis and post-diagnostic care across multiple countries, focusing on individual, community and health system solutions.
A qualitative study examining how newly qualified social workers in England experience and respond to racism in practice, and how social work education prepares them to challenge racism in health and social care contexts.
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Analysis examining how social policies in England and Wales fail to address the needs of Autistic adults, focusing on barriers in health services and social care systems.
A study examining safety inequities experienced by people with learning disabilities in English health and social care, drawing on lived experiences from focus groups and patient feedback narratives.
A systematic review examining interventions designed to reduce inequities in dementia diagnosis and post-diagnostic care across multiple countries, focusing on individual, community and health system solutions.
A qualitative study examining how newly qualified social workers in England experience and respond to racism in practice, and how social work education prepares them to challenge racism in health and social care contexts.
A national study exploring practical solutions to reduce inequalities in dementia diagnosis and care across England, drawing on workshops with people with dementia, carers, professionals and third sector organisations.
A policy-focused review examining barriers to dementia care access for Black and minoritised communities in the UK, highlighting gaps between national policy ambitions and local service delivery.
