NHS hospitals heavily reliant on locum doctors charging up to £850 per shift are 'undoubtedly' risking patient safety, study warns

Hospitals which rely heavily on locum doctors are 'undoubtedly' risking patient safety, a study of NHS practice found.

While temporary staff are a 'vital resource' to plug workforce gaps, issues such as unfamiliarity with protocols and procedures mean they 'pose significant patient safety challenges' for the NHS, experts say.

The report warned many were left feeling isolated and stigmatised by resident staff, creating a 'hostile environment'.

This has led to a 'defensive' culture over mistakes, hindering improvements to care, according to researchers.

Calling for greater monitoring by inspectors, NHS leaders must rethink how these professionals are supported and used, the authors said.

Writing in a linked editorial, Professor Richard Lilford, of the Institute of Applied Health Research at the University of Birmingham, said the findings suggested 'the life of the locum is a difficult and lonely one, opening up many pathways to unsafe practice.'

Likening it to airline pilots, he suggested staff would benefit from standardised practices – such as how the medicine cabinet is stocked – to minimise mistakes.

Agencies providing staff should be given routine feedback by employers and locum staff, to enhance patient safety, he said.

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Source: MailOnline, 16 April 2024