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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that one of the NHS’s biggest problems is that it’s almost impossible to sack anyone?

109 replies

SnugShaker · 26/07/2025 16:25

I know the NHS is under huge pressure and that many staff work incredibly hard. But from what I’ve seen and heard, one major issue is that it’s extremely difficult to dismiss underperforming employees. Unlike in the private sector, where people who don’t pull their weight are usually let go, the NHS seems to have layers of bureaucracy that protect staff, even when they’re not competent.

I’ve heard of people who do the bare minimum (or less) staying in their jobs for years, making life harder for colleagues who have to pick up the slack. Surely this impacts patient care and efficiency? AIBU to think that making it easier to remove underperforming staff would improve things? Or is there a good reason for the system being the way it is?

OP posts:
Ponoka7 · 26/07/2025 16:40

My DD is a supervisor within a hospital sector, another DD works in catering in a different hospital. There's two things, one is the managers and how they have to control their budgets. Another is that there isn't anyone to replace the staff, if they were fired. On every thread about women needing maintenance, universal credit top ups etc, they are told to get better paying jobs. So who is going to do the support staff jobs in the NHS?

Original poster
SnugShaker · 26/07/2025 16:39

verycloakanddaggers · 26/07/2025 16:33

And as for private sector being so bloody fantastic, do you want your GP on a zero hours contract with no job security, no sick pay like a retail worker? Do you think that'll help stop doctors moving to other countries?

A bigger issue is retention and staff shortages.

I never said NHS staff should have no protections, just that in some cases, persistent underperformance seems hard to address and that has consequences for colleagues and patients. Job security and fair treatment are important but so is accountability. I don’t think the two are mutually exclusive.

OP posts:
StinkyCheeseMoose · 26/07/2025 16:39

verycloakanddaggers · 26/07/2025 16:33

And as for private sector being so bloody fantastic, do you want your GP on a zero hours contract with no job security, no sick pay like a retail worker? Do you think that'll help stop doctors moving to other countries?

A bigger issue is retention and staff shortages.

The public sector (usually) looks after good staff and boots out the rubbish, because it makes good business sense to do so.

The public sector can afford to retain poor performers, because it's "only" taxpayers money they are wasting.

The private sector is answerable to shareholders.

Arewethebadguys · 26/07/2025 16:38

Couldn't agree more! Worked NHS 20 years ago and was just as bad

verycloakanddaggers · 26/07/2025 16:33

And as for private sector being so bloody fantastic, do you want your GP on a zero hours contract with no job security, no sick pay like a retail worker? Do you think that'll help stop doctors moving to other countries?

A bigger issue is retention and staff shortages.

StinkyCheeseMoose · 26/07/2025 16:33

It's not just the NHS, it's all public sector employers.

You can be as lazy and incompetent as you like, your job is safe.

God help you if you blow the whistle on corruption or bad practice though, or refer to some hairy-arsed bloke in a dress as "he" or "him". They'll move heaven and earth to get rid of you then.

MalcolmTuckersBollockingface · 26/07/2025 16:30

Yep, same in Local Authority and Civil Service. Based on personal experience, NHS also has a massive bullying culture which makes retaining decent staff nigh-on impossible

verycloakanddaggers · 26/07/2025 16:29

This is just an unfounded attack on NHS staff.

Backtothebestbits · 26/07/2025 16:27

Agree and its exactly the same in Local Authority too.