As Covid hospital cases jump by nearly a quarter in England and those working in health brace themselves for the next few months, new research shows that 58% of UK healthcare workers expect their industry to fundamentally change as a direct result of the coronavirus pandemic. That’s according to a new ‘Return to Work’ study from Qualtrics.
The research, conducted with 2,000 full-time workers in the UK, also shows that over half (51%) of those working in healthcare believe that the industry as a whole will be forced to focus more on innovation and over a third (39%) foresee a shift to telehealth services in the near future.
Despite the current issues facing health services, the findings also reveal that a further half (46%) see the pandemic creating increased employee engagement amongst healthcare workers, while a third (39%) anticipate increased loyalty from those on the front lines.
Commenting on the research, Sally Winston, Head of EX Solution Strategy EMEA at Qualtrics, said: “While numerous businesses have been affected by the current pandemic, the long term impact of COVID-19 on the healthcare profession is yet to be seen.
“Surprisingly, those working in this field are largely positive about what the future might hold, anticipating an increased focus on technology and improvements in employee engagement.
“However, positive or negative, those working in healthcare will have numerous concerns, sentiments and opinions about what the future of the industry looks like.
“Creating an understanding of the varied opinions across the workforce is key to creating the best work experience for everyone and to ensure that, looking to the future, the healthcare industry fundamentally changes for the better.”
The Return to Work Pulse is available at www.qualtrics.com/back-to-business-employee. To find out more about how Qualtrics is working with businesses and workers to uncover key insights, visit www.qualtrics.com.
