‘Hellish’ workload ‘putting hospital patients at risk’
We just can’t cope, warn junior doctors
PATIENTS in Scotland’s hospitals are being put ‘at risk’ with junior doctors struggling to cope with ‘hellish’ workloads and a lack of training.
A series of damning reports have highlighted serious concerns at health boards, with young medics hitting out at practices and the behaviour of staff.
The NHS Education for Scotland (NES) body works with health chiefs to train staff.
NES inspectors have revealed fears from young doctors who say they are struggling with large workloads, and missed training.
The Sunday Times yesterday revealed investigations were launched at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary and Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, Fife, after NES teams were alerted to ‘red flags’.
At the Glasgow hospital, trainees said it was often ‘chaos’ as they are frequently moved between wards with little time to work out ‘whose patient is who’.
They also described working night shifts at the hospital as ‘absolutely hellish’ due to the massive workloads, as they are often responsible for admitting and treating patients, taking emergency calls and preparing patients for theatre.
In the report, young medics said they often felt ‘exposed’ and that they ‘would not feel comfortable’ calling a consultant at night.
On changing wards, trainees said that being moved on a daily basis ‘negatively impacts their experience, with no continuity or ability to learn from experience’.
Female junior doctors raised issues with the ‘unpleasant and rude’ nursing staff who they say show ‘undermining behaviour’ to them.
At the Victoria Hospital, trainees reported patient safety concerns regarding ‘boarding’ – when patients are ready to be moved to a ward but there are no beds available.
According to inspectors, ‘trainees highlighted occasions when the medical team have specifically written that a patient must not be boarded only to discover the next day the patient has been boarded’.
The report mentioned examples ‘when patients returned to the ward more unwell than when they left as they have not received the appropriate care on the boarded ward’.
Scottish Tory health spokesman Miles Briggs said: ‘Patients put their trust in these hospitals, and they’re being let down. It’s becoming clear that Scotland cannot trust SNP ministers with our NHS or to effectively manage hospitals.’
NHS Fife medical director Dr Chris McKenna said: ‘NHS Fife has been working closely with our trainee doctors to inform a significant programme of work that will improve the areas that were highlighted.’
An NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde spokesman said: ‘We have identified areas where measures are being put in place which will lead to improvements.’
A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘We expect NHS boards to provide an environment where junior doctors feel a valued part of the clinical team and have access to the support they need.’
‘Unpleasant and rude’