Top Scientist Issues Stark Warning On 'Shattered' Healthcare Workers

Jeremy Farrar says global morale crisis needs tackling urgently

- Sarah Boseley and Nicola Davis

Healthcare workers are "absolutely shattered" and unless something is done to address the crisis in morale, staffing and training, "they won't be there when you need them", one of the world's leading scientists warns today.

Speaking to the Guardian, Prof Jeremy Farrar, the director of Wellcome and soon-to-be chief scientist of the World Health Organization, warned that healthcare workers would not be ready should another crisis hit.

"This is a global issue, which I think is hugely concerning. It's certainly true in this country," he said. "The resilience of healthcare workers, broadly defined from ambulance drivers to nurses to doctors, to care workers in social care, etc - they're shattered. They are absolutely shattered."

Farrar's comments come as thousands of ambulance workers in the GMB and Unite unions go on strike today in their dispute over pay and staffing. Meanwhile, the British Medical Association has accused the government of reckless behaviour before the results of a strike ballot by junior doctors are announced.

Prof Philip Banfield, the British Medical Association's chair of council, said the prime minister, Rishi Sunak, and the health secretary, Steve Barclay, were "standing on the precipice of an historic mistake".

Junior doctors are the latest staff to ballot for industrial action, with nurses, ambulance staff, physiotherapists and midwives among those who have already gone on strike. Further strikes next month have been announced by the Royal College of Nursing and ambulance workers represented by Unite and GMB.