The Adverse Effect of COVID-19 towards UK Healthcare Workers Mental Health: Critical Review of the Literature

Background: The pandemic changed healthcare priorities all over the world, resulting in increased pressure on healthcare workers. Studies conducted in other countries reveal a significant mental health burden of the pandemic on healthcare workers. However, only a few studies have focused on UK healthcare workers, which can demonstrate variations in healthcare systems from one country to another. Purpose: To examine the mental health impacts of COVID-19 on frontline UK healthcare workers and point to interventions to mitigate and minimise mental health problems caused by the pandemic. Methods: This review article used an interpretivist philosophy and an inductive approach. Electronic bibliographic databases were searched using relevant search terms. Primary studies published between 2020 and 2021 were selected. Only studies conducted in the United Kingdom were considered for inclusion. Results: Ten studies were retrieved and critiqued. It was discovered that anxiety, depression, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder were the most reported mental health issues among frontline UK healthcare workers during the pandemic. Healthcare workers who experienced moral injury, the situation where moral dilemmas make healthcare workers feel incompetent, were at higher risk of developing the above mental health issues. These mental health issues had a negative impact on the healthcare workers’ work performance. This was predominantly due to the burnout, stress, and low motivation. The health workers in UK preferred psychosocial support as the most favourable Mental Health support intervention. However, there were reported disparities in the provision and access of the mental health support intervention at various regions within UK health care system. Conclusions: It was concluded that the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant mental health burden on frontline UK healthcare workers.