In the midst of advancements in healthcare digitisation, the critical issue of recruitment delays remains overlooked, causing strain on staff morale and patient care. Jonathan Evans, UK Country Manager at Digidentity, explores the repercussions and advocates for a comprehensive Digital Transformation strategy to alleviate these challenges.
We have already seen significant advancements in the digitisation of the healthcare industry in both the public and private sectors. The NHS, for example, has launched its new publicly backed ‘patient passports’, which will enable patients to view records, order prescriptions, pick up test results, see correspondence, book appointments etc.
However, a problem that isn’t being discussed enough is recruitment delays. These delays are putting strain on healthcare staff, affecting their morale, which in turn may affect patient care.
Types of delays
There are many consequences of recruitment delays in healthcare. One significant challenge arises from the time-consuming nature of on-boarding new staff. Legislative changes made in October 2022 that permit UK organisations to outsource digital Right to Work checks for British and Irish citizens to government-certified Identity Service Providers, have helped.
However, some argue that the legislation doesn’t go further enough and adoption hasn’t been universal meaning the process remains sub-optimal in terms of speed and cost. In fact, our research shows that more than a third of healthcare recruitment and HR professionals have disclosed that their organisations lack a clear and efficient process for conducting these checks.
Certainly, the significance of appropriate identity verification and authentication cannot be overstated; they prove an individual’s identity and mitigate the risk of hiring someone impersonating someone else. However, the prevailing way to verify an identity requires the presentation of original documents and an in-person meeting. This archaic practice remains a fundamental part of the hiring process in healthcare, even in cases of simple staff relocations between hospitals.
Recruitment delays affecting staff morale
These recruitment delays pose a significant obstacle for healthcare organisations setting off a chain reaction that disrupts the onboarding process for new hires. This issue is especially pronounced in an industry where employees frequently shift between roles, trusts, and hospitals.
The ramifications of these challenges are far-reaching, impacting not only the welfare of staff and patients but also the overall operational effectiveness of healthcare institutions.
Data from our healthcare survey indicates widespread recognition of these difficulties among healthcare decision-makers. An overwhelming majority (97%) acknowledge the prevalence of recruitment delays in the sector, with a similarly high number (98%) highlighting the negative consequences of these delays.
Ultimately, these delays lead to significant understaffing, resulting in a decrease in morale, productivity, and higher employee turnover. Addressing these issues is paramount for ensuring the health and efficiency of the healthcare system.
A costly strain
The impact of recruitment delays extends beyond morale and patient care, exerting a significant financial burden on healthcare organisations as well. Our data shows that each organisation faces an average annual expenditure of £544,000 on locums and overtime shifts to mitigate workforce gaps.
This expenditure not only strains budgets but also diverts vital resources from essential healthcare services. This diversion of funds is especially concerning for the NHS, where budgets are already stretched thin. It is imperative to adopt a more sustainable approach that addresses the underlying causes of recruitment delays to ensure the effective functioning of healthcare systems.
A Digital Transformation strategy
The way to tackle these issues is through a comprehensive Digital Transformation strategy. The system agrees too – 74% of participants from Digidentity’s survey agreed that digital tools would streamline and accelerate the recruitment and identity verification process. By moving away from cumbersome recruitment systems and digitising the process, the healthcare sector will have more time and money to improve patient care and boost staff morale.
There is clearly a collective recognition that a technologically driven approach to recruitment is key to fostering resilience and efficiency within the healthcare system, ensuring a healthier future for all.