THE staff survey also included employees of NHS Derby City, which oversees local healthcare.

The trust scored well compared to other trusts nationally in terms of the low number of staff having been bullied by colleagues or who had felt pressurised to attend work when feeling unwell. Staff also had good ratings for reporting errors and near-misses.

The trust's failings, compared to others in the country, were in the areas of providing hand-washing materials and ensuring good communication between management and staff.

DERBY'S hospitals were found to be doing slightly better than the national average in a number of areas, including staff training, work-related injuries and work pressure.

There was a reduction since 2008 in the number of staff working extra hours, or planning to leave their jobs. There was a rise in the number agreeing that their employer was committed to helping them achieve a work-life balance.

But only 75% of staff said they had an interesting job, compared to 80% nationally.

The number of staff properly reporting errors was slightly worse than the national average.

THE study showed that staff at Derbyshire Mental Health Services NHS Trust were given more training than the national average and were less likely to suffer discrimination, but more reported work pressure than at other trusts.

Fewer than the national average reported good communication between them and senior management or said they worked in a well-structured team.

A spokesman for the trust said: "We are already working on areas which need further improvement, for example by taking action to improve communication with staff and to help them develop their skills."

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