An average of 44% of healthcare workers and employers experience a high to very high level of pressure at work, according to a survey by statistics agency CBS.

Over half agreed with the statement: ‘I feel I don’t have enough time to do my job’. People working in mental healthcare and youth care reported the highest levels of work-related stress, at 53% and 49% respectively.

The most frequent cause of stress cited by people in the sector were bureaucracy and paperwork. Other factors include workload increases, criticism from clients and personnel shortages.

Two-thirds of workers say they face aggression and violence from patients or their relatives. Despite the pressures 90% of respondents said they enjoy their job and 78% are happy with the atmosphere at work.

Some 1.3 million people work in the Netherlands’ healthcare sector.