ALMOST a third of staff at a mental health trust witnessed potentially harmful errors, near misses or incidents in a month.

A 2016 staff satisfaction survey conducted at the North Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust revealed this was against a national average of 16 per cent.

Thirty per cent of staff say they have experienced harassment, bullying or abuse from colleagues.

Of the 763 workers who responded, nearly half of staff felt so stressed it’s left them feeling unwell.

Sixty-one per cent said they still attended work in the last three months despite feeling unwell because they felt pressure from their manager, colleagues or themselves.

Three quarters of staff said they worked extra hours.

Just 24 per cent said there was good communication between senior management and staff.

The Trust employs people at sites including the Lakes mental health unit, in Turner Road, Colchester and the Linden Centre in Chelmsford.

A spokesperson said: “These results send a clear message from our staff that they are working under extreme pressure but remain totally focused on delivering the highest quality care for our patients in challenging circumstances, including local and national staff shortages and also financial pressures.”

The Trust merged with its South Essex counterpart at the beginning of the month.