News
Doctors more sleep deprived now than after the pandemic
More doctors are reporting that their ability to treat patients is being affected by feeling sleep deprived at work, a Medical Defence Union (MDU) survey has found. Nearly 90% of respondents to the MDU’s survey said they feel sleep deprived at work, which is a 20% increase compared to a survey carried out three years ago (January 2022) when 75% of doctors felt sleep deprived at work. Of those, 41% experienced sleep deprivation on at least a weekly basis now, compared to 37% in 2022. Patient safety incidents have also increased with 69 near misses and seventeen cases where patients had sustained harm reported, which was an increase on 2022, when there were almost 40 near misses and seven cases where patients sustained harm. The survey of 481 doctors found that the proportion saying tiredness has impacted their ability to treat patients safely has increased
from a quarter (26%) in 2022 to a third (35%) of doctors responding to the latest survey. Dr. Udvitha Nandasoma, MDU head of advisory services, said: “The results of this survey are deeply concerning. There has been no let-up in the immense pressures faced by healthcare professionals in the past three years and this is continuing to impact doctor’s mental health and affect patient care. “When patients come to harm as a result of an impaired doctor, tiredness and fatigue are so common that they might not stand out as contributing factors and the focus can unfairly fall on the individual clinician. “Nearly four in ten doctors (38%) told us they
were rarely or never able to take breaks during the working day, including lunch breaks. This is an unsustainable situation. If the government is to succeed in its 10-year health plan for the NHS, it needs staff to be firing on all cylinders, so they can safely care for patients. Other MDU survey findings included:
l 35% said tiredness had impaired their ability to treat patients and 34% said tiredness may have played a part.
l There were 69 near misses and seventeen cases in which a patient sustained harm.
l 62% said winter pressures had increased this year and added to tiredness levels.
Doctors confirm ‘corridor care’ crisis as 80% forced to treat patients in unsafe spaces
Doctors across the NHS have confirmed that treating patients in corridors, waiting rooms, and other unsuitable spaces has become routine, with nearly 4 in 5 (78%) forced to provide care in these conditions in the past month. A new snapshot survey by the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) highlights the worsening crisis in NHS hospitals, where a lack of capacity is pushing vulnerable patients into undignified and unsafe conditions. The survey gathered responses from almost a thousand (961) physicians across the UK, spanning a wide range of specialties - including cardiology, respiratory medicine, and general internal medicine - who report firsthand the challenges of delivering care in temporary spaces. The findings show that 78% of respondents had provided care in a temporary environment in the past month. Of the 889 respondents who gave further details on where this care was delivered, locations included: l Corridors (45%).
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l Additional beds or chairs in patient bays (27%). l Wards without dedicated bed space (13%). l Waiting rooms (9%). l Another location not designed for patient care e.g. bathroom (4.5%).
The consequences of treating patients in unsuitable spaces are severe. 90% of doctors reported compromised patient privacy and dignity, while 81% faced physical difficulties delivering care. Additionally, 75% struggled with access to vital equipment or facilities, and 58% saw patient safety directly compromised. The impact on doctors themselves was also significant, with 61% reporting increased personal stress. Earlier this year, the RCP published a position
statement calling for a zero-tolerance approach to ‘corridor care’, warning that the widespread use of temporary care spaces is undermining patient safety and dignity. View the survey results at:
https://tinyurl.com/3hh24xe9
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EBME Expo Leaders Network convenes
The first gathering of the ‘EBME Expo Leaders Network’ brought together a select group of influential leaders from the healthcare technology (HealthTech) industry to drive innovation and to collaborate on achieving key objectives in the field of EBME. Taking place at the Cinnamon Club, in
Westminster, London, the aim of the discussion was to explore how the EBME Expo can serve as a platform for meaningful progress in the sector, and to identify the key challenges and opportunities to advance HealthTech management. The afternoon encouraged a thought-provoking exchange of ideas on how the sector can navigate some of the key issues around: the increasing connectivity of HealthTech, the NHS drive towards more personalised care in patients’ homes, and the need for increased investment in HealthTech’s strategic management and the EBME workforce. EBME Expo Chair, John Sandham pointed out that HealthTech has moved towards increasing complexity and connectivity: “Over the years, the role has gradually changed… We have moved from individual ‘device-based management of equipment’, to a ‘systems-based management’ process. Part of that is connectivity. This year, at EBME Expo, we are introducing a Connectivity Stage,” he announced. John added that we are seeing increasing
use of artificial intelligence in healthcare technologies, but “we need to ensure connectivity works first”. Caroline Finlay, from MTS Health, commented that the workforce is one of the biggest issues facing the EBME sector, in terms of skills and capabilities – particularly around IT: “We cannot achieve what we need to achieve, without recognition that we need more training and development.” Other hot topics included: the announcement
of a new role of ‘Authorising Engineer’ for medical devices (developed with IHEEM), the need for a future workforce strategy and the changing skills sets required by EBME departments, cyber security risks associated with connected healthcare technologies, and the challenges and risks relating to the management of medical devices in patients’ homes, as the NHS strives to move care from hospitals into the community. CSJ will be providing an in- depth report based on the thought leadership discussion at the EBME Expo Leaders Network in the May edition.
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