Research exposing the extreme demands that NHS personnel face reveals that nearly nine out of ten nurses report to work when unwell.

85% of nurses who experienced problems such as stress, back discomfort, colds, anxiety, or depression at least once in the previous year still showed up for a shift.

A Royal College of Nursing (RCN) poll of over 11,000 members nationwide found that nearly half (46%) did it between two and five times, and nearly one in five (19%) did so more than five times.

There is an increasing number of nurses who are working through illness. 85% of people did so last year, up from 77% in 2021.

Nurses feel impelled to work while sick to help plug gaps in rotas and ensure patients receive the best possible care, the RCN said.

Pat Cullen, the union’s general secretary and chief executive, said: “In desperate attempts to hold services together, more and more nursing staff are turning up to work whilst sick. They are sacrificing their own welfare to care for patients.

“These dedicated professionals shouldn’t have to sacrifice their health and wellbeing to prop up neglected services. But that is the daily reality, and it is patients who ultimately suffer.

“The stress and anxiety from trying to meet the needs of patients is forcing them to work whilst sick.”

The RCN’s biannual research into the state of the nursing profession also painted a picture of a workforce that is unhappy, overworked, downtrodden and increasingly frustrated about pay. It found that:

• Seventy-one per cent feel they are under too much pressure at work.
• Sixty-six per cent say they are too busy to give patients the ideal level of care.
• Forty-five per cent are planning to quit or considering doing so.
• Only two in five would recommend nursing as a career – and 21% regret becoming a nurse.

The NHS in England alone is short of 34,709 nurses, the most recent vacancy figures show.

Pay emerged as the biggest frustration. Almost nine out of 10 (88%) said a pay rise would make the most difference to them, far ahead of more flexible working hours (30%), more holidays (30%) and shorter hours (25%).

Many nurses are beset by money troubles. Some are opting out of their pension scheme to free up cash to help them through the cost of living crisis, while an inability to make ends meet is making 70% of nurses anxious or sleep-deprived, the RCN found.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “We hugely value the work of NHS nurses and remain committed to supporting the career development and wellbeing of all NHS staff.

“The most recent NHS staff survey showed improvements in morale and staff experience, and the rate of nursing vacancies in NHS trusts is at its lowest since records began in 2017.

“In addition, the NHS long-term workforce plan – backed by over £2.4bn government funding – will increase the number of nurses by up to 190,000 by 2036/37.”