‘Doctors in fear of unsafe conditions’
Doctors are living in fear of medical errors as they struggle to care for patients in unsafe conditions, with staff shortages and a lack of equipment, a survey of almost 8,000 doctors for the British Medical Association has found.
DOCTORS ARE living in fear of making medical errors as they struggle to care for patients in unsafe conditions, a major survey of NHS medics has found.
A survey of almost 8,000 doctors conducted by ICM for the British Medical Association (BMA) paints a bleak picture of underfunding, staff shortages and a lack of equipment.
It found that as well as a “culture of fear” persisting in the health service, black and minority ethnic doctors are facing “unconscious racism”, bullying and harassment.
The doctors’ union said the NHS culture had improved little since reports were published into the scandal of high death rates and poor care at Stafford Hospital in the late 2000s.
BMA chairman Dr Chaand Nagpaul said: “It is vital that the Government and policy makers heed the views of all doctors who provide care at the coalface. They are in the best place to know the problems the NHS faces on a daily, hourly basis.
“They know the scale of impoverishment in the NHS is staggering.
“They are working in a culture which has improved little since the publication of the Francis and Berwick reports following the tragedies in Mid-Staffordshire five years ago.
“Doctors experience challenges of trying to provide safe patient care when there is poor staffing, gaps in rotas, lack of adequate facilities and where a persistent culture of blame stifles learning and improvement.”
The survey found that 95 per cent of doctors are fearful of making medical errors, and that the level of fear has increased over the past five years. Nine out of 10 doctors say one of the main reasons for making errors is pressure in the workplace.
Most doctors believe that patient services have worsened and around three-quarters of doctors said that national targets and directives are prioritised over the quality of care.
Some 55 per cent were worried they will be unfairly blamed for errors that are due to system failings and pressures and as a result, half of doctors admitted that they practise “defensively”.
Almost four-fifths of medics believe that NHS resources are not good enough which “significantly affects the quality and safety of patient services”.
Only half of black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) doctors feel respected or “culturally included” in their place of work.
They talked of being hindered in their job progression and being more likely to be investigated and face harsh sanctions from the General Medical Council, the BMA said.
Dr Nagpaul added: “BAME doctors make up more than a third of the medical workforce and play a vital role, day in day out, delivering care to patients across the country.
“Yet despite their commitment they’re more likely to face referral to the General Medical Council, are more likely to have their cases investigated and are more likely to face harsh sanctions following an investigation.
Only seven per cent of very senior managers are from BAME backgrounds, the BMA said.
Dr Nagpaul said: “BAME staff in the NHS workforce as a whole are more likely to experience bullying, harassment or abuse from other staff.
“Differential achievement in exams and poorer career progression are another worrying factor, and with independent research showing that this is not related to any lack of ability. In the 21st century, that is not acceptable.”
The report forms part of the BMA’s latest project which aims to engage British doctors in conversation about their working experiences and come up with solutions to problems.
The Department of Health and Social Care is yet to comment.
A persisent culture of blame stifles improvement. BMA chairman Dr Chaand Nagpaul