Healthcare Commission: NHS challenges are tough

Some of the problems of working in the NHS are "tough" to deal with, the chief executive of the Healthcare Commission has said.

Anna Walker said a survey conducted by the health watchdog shows there are "a lot of reasons to work in the NHS".

But the poll also revealed problems including assaults on staff, lack of appreciation by employers and poor communication.

Ms Walker commented that the results "must be used to drive continual improvement in the working lives of thousands of NHS workers".

"There are challenges to making the NHS a better place to work. Some of those will be tough to crack because they are about the environment that the healthcare system operates in," she added.

Ms Walker called on trusts to make a "concerted effort" to address assaults on staff and to improve how valued staff feel.

"These are things that trusts can and must change," she commented.