Senior NHS figures say staff shortages are putting patient care at risk

NHS staff shortages are putting patient safety and care at risk, according to a NHS Confederation survey of leaders across the health service in England.

In the survey, carried out in November 2019, the NHS Confederation asked chief executives, chairs and directors across NHS trusts, clinical commissioning groups and local integrated care systems what the next government’s priorities for the NHS should be.

Of the 131 respondents, 90% expressed concern about the impact understaffing was having on care and 76% said that the incoming government must prioritise the support and growth of the NHS workforce.

The Pharmaceutical Journal reported on 14 November 2019 that, although specific figures for vacancies among hospital pharmacists are not available, as of 31 March 2019 there was a mean vacancy rate of 8.1% for all pharmacy staff in hospital trusts — a small increase on 2018’s figure of 7.3%.

Some pharmacists have expressed concern that the expansion of primary care networks could lead to an increase in hospital pharmacist vacancies.

Niall Dickson, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said that the survey findings send “a clear message to whoever forms the new government on the scale of the challenge facing the NHS and how to make the service fit for the future”.

“There is no quick fix for all the challenges facing the NHS in England, but there is a direction of travel laid out already in the ‘NHS long-term plan’, and it is at least encouraging that no political leaders are proposing further reorganisation.”