Patients at risk as doctors take on too much work claims BMA
THE SAFETY of hospital patients is being put at risk as medics take on unmanageable workloads, a report by doctors’ leaders has warned,
The British Medical Association (BMA) said gaps in hospital staffing rotas meant medics were taking on the workloads of multiple people and juniors doctors are pressured into taking extra shifts.
The BMA has called on the Government to boost staffing after a survey found some doctors were forced to act above their skill level to make up staffing shortfalls.
The majority of the 1,000 English doctors who responded to the BMA poll said they had been forced to take on the work on multiple staff. And some organisations are “obscuring” rota gaps, said the BMA’s report.
Of those surveyed, 80 per cent said their employers encouraged staff to take on the workload of multiple people. Some 68 per cent said they had been asked to act up into more senior roles or cover for junior colleagues.
Dr Pete Campbell, deputy chairman of the BMA’s Junior Doctor Committee, said: “The BMA has consistently warned of the serious risk to patient safety because of rota gaps as the increasing pressure that doctors are being placed under means that they are often unable to deliver satisfactory levels of care.
“With significant recruitment and retention issues throughout medical specialities across the country, the Government must finally recognise how serious this problem is and address the huge recruitment and retention issues facing us.”
The Department of Health and Social Care said an extra 1,500 training places for doctors were announced last year. A spokesman said: “It’s vital that hospitals plan and modernise rota systems to support doctors and make sure patients get good, safe care.
“We’re committed to improving the work-life balance of staff by expanding flexible working and e-rostering, and providing more staff through the biggest ever increase in training places for doctors and five new medical schools.”