Senior healthcare leaders are being urged to take part in a confidential survey about their wellbeing so researchers can find out how the pandemic has impacted them.

The St Andrew’s Healthcare’s Centre for Developmental and Complex Trauma has teamed up with the Moral Injury of Healthcare, a US based non-profit organisation that explores moral injury, a type of trauma, in healthcare settings, to develop an online, anonymous survey.

The idea of the questionnaire is to give participants the opportunity to share their experiences of being a senior leader during a highly anomalous period in healthcare. 

For the purpose of this study, a 'senior healthcare leader' is defined as a person holding at least six months experience in a position at an Executive or Director level, or as a Head of Profession or Operations, or Department Chair.

Dr Deborah Morris, Director of the Centre for Developmental and Complex Trauma, said: “Over the last 18 months, a considerable amount of research has been carried out to explore the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on frontline healthcare workers in physical and, to a lesser extent, mental healthcare settings. 

“Comparatively, less research has been carried out among senior healthcare leaders during this time. In order to understand the full extent of the pandemic, and to develop plans to meet the needs of all levels of healthcare workers, it is vital we acknowledge and explore the experiences and wellbeing of those who carry considerable leadership responsibilities.”

The survey takes less than seven minutes to complete and is completely anonymous.

Participants are also encouraged to share the link among their St Andrew’s colleagues as well as externally among those in senior healthcare leadership positions.

 To take part in the survey, click here.