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A key link between organisational culture and quality improvement is the wellbeing of an organisation’s most valuable asset, its people. This is particularly true for hierarchical cultures, such as those in the healthcare sector. There is an abundance of research linking organisational culture to employee wellbeing and productivity, thereby strengthening the business case for investment.
Creating a culture conductive to employee wellbeing is fully aligned with the values of the NHS outlined in the NHS constitution. This requires support at leadership level; facilitation by managers, who will set the standards and expectations of behaviour; empowerment of employees so that they can take responsibility for their own health and wellbeing.
Stakeholders, including clinical leaders, managers, occupational health and human resource professionals, should be influencers in creating a workplace culture that nurtures and develops individuals, with the ultimate aim of making a positive impact on the quality of patient care.
Competing interests:
No competing interests
17 December 2018
Anna Trakoli
Consultant in Occupational Medicine
Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Workplace Health and Wellbeing Centre, Bradford Royal Infirmary
Re: Understanding organisational culture for healthcare quality improvement
A key link between organisational culture and quality improvement is the wellbeing of an organisation’s most valuable asset, its people. This is particularly true for hierarchical cultures, such as those in the healthcare sector. There is an abundance of research linking organisational culture to employee wellbeing and productivity, thereby strengthening the business case for investment.
Creating a culture conductive to employee wellbeing is fully aligned with the values of the NHS outlined in the NHS constitution. This requires support at leadership level; facilitation by managers, who will set the standards and expectations of behaviour; empowerment of employees so that they can take responsibility for their own health and wellbeing.
Stakeholders, including clinical leaders, managers, occupational health and human resource professionals, should be influencers in creating a workplace culture that nurtures and develops individuals, with the ultimate aim of making a positive impact on the quality of patient care.
Competing interests: No competing interests