Women working in the NHS have suffered a heavy toll of mental stress during the pandemic, according to the findings of a major survey today.

Many women found themselves taking extra caring responsibilities outside work – with little chance to cut working hours, according to the NHS Confederation survey.

More than 1,300 women took part in the NHS Confederation survey in June and 72% said their emotional wellbeing had suffered through the pandemic. 52% said there had been an impact on physical health.

Respondents included doctors, managers, nurses, administrative staff and other health professionals.

Women said they took, on average, more than 11 hours a week of extra non-work caring responsibilities but were only able to cut their working week by 1.44 hours on average.

There were further pressures faced by those of black and other ethnic minority background as they underwent the trauma of finding they could face increased risk of infection.

One woman said: “I am exhausted. I can’t buy food on my day off as I want to hide under the covers and sleep. I can’t face being jolly and excited for my children, who are scared Mummy is going to die of COVID.”

The Confederation makes a series of recommendations, headed by the need to give priority to requests for flexible working. It says unpaid overtime should be discouraged and that managers should pay attention to the needs of female staff with children.

The NHS National Guardian Dr Henrietta Hughes said: “The responses that show the barriers that continue to be faced by Black, and Minority Ethnic colleagues to speak up are particularly shocking.

“It shows the critical role which managers play in fostering a culture where we feel safe to share these concerns or be signposted to alternative speaking up channels and to keep our NHS People Promise that ‘we each have a voice that counts’.”

Samantha Allen, chair of the Confederation’s health and care women leaders network, said: “The results of this survey hammer home the wide-ranging toll that the pandemic has had on the health and wellbeing of female health and care workers so far and how the level of pressure and expectation of self-sacrifice is not sustainable, especially as patient services across the NHS continue to resume ahead of winter.

“Women make up more than three-quarters of the NHS workforce, so we cannot afford to let these issues be ignored. Now more than ever, women across health and care must have access to the right support so that we can minimise the risk of burnout, protect their wellbeing, and make sure they are mentally and physically healthy enough to continue to care for and support our communities.”