HEALTH chiefs are taking action to cut down on staff stress levels at Dorset County Hospital.

The West Dorset General Hospitals NHS Trust Board met yesterday after the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) served the Dorchester-based establishment the first ever improvement notice to curb workplace stress.

Chairman Robin SeQueira said he wanted board members to see "in black and white" what needs to be done.

An HSE schedule suggests the trust should look at the hospital's levels of sickness absence, and if reporting procedures need to be changed.

It said that work pressures, the amount of say employees have, management support, bullying and harassment could all be factors.

The group heard that researchers from Exeter University are conducting an independent survey of staff, with a final report out in November.

Human resources director Robert Pascall said: "Staff will have every opportunity to put forward their view without management presence."

Director of nursing Elaine Maxwell said: "Nobody has really done a lot of work in this area, so we may well end up leaders in the field of stress management in the NHS.

"The unions have been most supportive; we are working very closely with them and I am in weekly contact with the HSE inspector, who is pleased we are using a university rather than a consultancy."

Board members have formed a steering group to look at stress management at other hospitals and keep staff informed.

Dorset County Hospital was ordered to carry out a risk assessment on stress levels at after one employee made a confidential complaint.

Chief executive Nick Cox faces prosecution or a £20,000 fine if policies and plans to deal with staff stress are not put in place by December 15.