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OVERWORKED, stressed out and victims of harassment and bullying.

That is what life is like for NHS staff across the south, according to a report released today. Results of a staff satisfaction survey show more NHS workers in Hampshire feel unable to cope with their workload, when compared with the national average. The Healthcare Commission survey showed that staff at half of the trusts were exposed to levels of harassment from patients that exceeded the national average.

Southampton City Primary Care Trust and Hampshire Partnership NHS Trust, which provides mental health services, also recorded higher than average levels of violent attacks towards staff. Both trusts said they had systems in place to deal robustly with attacks on staff.

Hampshire Primary Care Trust fared badly in areas of job satisfaction and workers who wanted to leave their jobs. Health and Safety training was one of the few positives.

A spokesman said it was the first survey on staff attitudes that had been carried out since the PCT was formed and that there were areas in need of improvement that had already been identified.

South Central Ambulance Service, which covers Hampshire, also failed to score well in a number of areas but did fair better in conducting staff appraisals.

Divisional director Phil Campling said it had been a challenging year and recognised the changes to meet new response times had led to extra pressure on staff, whom he applauded for their hard work.

David Prout, vice-secretary for Unison, the union which represents health workers in the region, said: "It doesn't come as any surprise to me that local trusts have not scored well in areas like harassment, bullying and workload.

"This is the legacy that has been left by 20 years of government box ticking. Things come at a price and too often it is staff."

On a more positive note trusts including Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare Trust, Hampshire Partner-ship Trust, Southampton University Hospitals Trust and Southampton City Primary Care Trust had low levels of staff who wanted to leave their jobs and good levels of job satisfaction.

A spokesman for Hampshire Partnership Trust said they were pleased that they were in the top 20 trusts for job satisfaction and continued to improve in most areas.

Southampton City Primary Care Trust said they were pleased with positive feedback around their commitment to work life balance, learning and development opportunities, and staff recognition and took seriously any instances of physical abuse towards staff.

Head of human resources at Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare Trust Jim Robson said he was satisfied with the generally positive results that rated the trust highly on flexible working options, work life balance.

Mark Hackett, chief executive at Southampton University Hospitals Trust described the results as extremely positive overall and was pleased that the trust had been rated in the top 20 per cent for some categories.