Medical services in Dorset have done well in a staff survey – although only just over half of local NHS staff took part.

The comprehensive survey looks at nine key areas of working for the NHS with the acute trust based at Dorset County Hospital one of the best scoring in the country.

Overall the figures gave the Trust a rating of 3.84, out of 5, for staff engagement, a small improvement over the previous year.

Amongst the questions were ‘care of patients is always my top priority’ which scored 77 per cent, 3 per cent up on the last survey and 1 per cent higher than other acute trusts.

When asked whether they would recommend the trust as a good place to work 66 per cent who responded said that would, 5 per cent higher than the average for acute trusts.

Council of Governors for DCH were told by HR specialist and non-executive governor Veronica Hodges that the trend, locally, had been one of steady improvement.

She said that amongst the more negative aspects were concerns that the trust could do better in offering more non-mandatory training, should do better at reporting ‘near misses’ and ought to be doing more to minimise the risk of violence towards staff.

“All in all it was very encouraging; there were lots of positives but also lots of things we could improve on.

“The most important thing is that we act on the feedback, continue what we are good at, and work on other areas which could improve.”

Chief executive Patricia Miller said that she was disappointed that only 52 per cent took part in the survey: “We have still got an issue where people think they can be identified, but they can’t be. We don’t do it, the survey is undertaken by an outside company.”

Some Governors suggested that the time it takes to fill in the survey, with around sixty different questions, not all of them offering a straightforward response, might also be the cause of almost half not taking part.

Said staff Governor Tracy Glen:”I’m worried that we might not be hearing from those who have negative things to say. It is also a question of finding the time to fill this in.”