Unpaid overtime in the NHS is falling—what this means for the workforce

In 2024 NHS staff reported working unpaid overtime equivalent to at least 49 000 full time employees. Such discretionary effort has long underpinned NHS service delivery, but recent data show it is declining, find <b>Jack Elliott</b> and <b>Elaine Kelly</b>, raising questions for workforce planning

Authors

Elaine Kelly (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3396-6664)
Jack Elliott

Institutions

Institute for Fiscal Studies (GB)
Health Foundation (GB)

Publication Details

Journal: BMJ
Published: 2026-02-19
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.s254
Citations: 1
Primary Topic: Healthcare Systems and Challenges
Type: article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact: 46.02

Controls

|||

ALL TIME

JAN

FEB

MAR

APR

MAY

JUN

JUL

AUG

SEP

OCT

article

Unpaid overtime in the NHS is falling—what this means for the workforce

Elaine Kelly, Jack Elliott

Feb 19, 2026

1 citations

BMJ

Healthcare Systems and Challenges

46.02

article

Unpaid overtime in the NHS is falling—what this means for the workforce

Elaine Kelly, Jack Elliott

February 19, 2026article en

1 citations

Abstract

BMJVol. 392

Institute for Fiscal Studies (GB), Health Foundation (GB)

Decent work and economic growth

Openalex Percentile: Top 0%

Healthcare Systems and Challenges

46.02

DOI Source OpenAlex

AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.

Unpaid overtime in the NHS is falling—what this means for the workforce — Elaine Kelly, Jack Elliott · BMJ (2026) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS