Patients being put at risk in hospitals by staff relations 'breakdown'

A “serious breakdown” in relationships among staff and management at a Scottish health board is likely having a detrimental effect on patient care, a review has found.

The probe by Healthcare Improvement Scotland looked at emergency departments (ED) in three hospitals in the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) health board, which serves a population of 1.2 million people and employs 44,000 staff.

Staff within NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde have raised a range of DATIX reports about crowding, corridor care and patient safety concerns associated with delays in providing care.

The negative impact of corridor care was highlighted by many staff in terms of insufficient staffing, dignity, privacy, direct view of patients and consequent harm.

These descriptions reflected a common observation that patient experience was impacted by high workload which meant staff were unable to spend time providing person-centred care.

The report finds that a culture of “disrespectful behaviours, poor teamwork and incivility” is having a negative impact on staff morale and wellbeing, and it is likely having a detrimental impact on patient care.

The report concludes that relationships need to be repaired between various groups of staff, supported by compassionate leadership.

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Source: The Herald, 27 March 2025