Hospital Workers Sleeping on Duty Put Patients at Risk

As specialist Medical negligence solicitors at Chadwick Lawrence, we are concerned that patient safety may be compromised as a result of occasional incidents of NHS employees sleeping on duty and that this could potentially result in patients sustaining avoidable injuries.

The Independent reported recent incidents of staff at King’s College Hospital in London asleep while on duty, (Sam Masters, The Independent, Sunday 16^th February 2014). Some had been caught asleep and some had been reported to bosses by other workers. The newspaper reported that a hospital spokesman had confirmed that there had been rare incidents of staff being found asleep and said such incidents were, “entirely unacceptable and we have been communicating the seriousness of this with our staff. Providing top quality care for our patients is our number one priority. To do this, staff must be vigilant at all times.”

According to the Independent, last year the Royal College of Physicians found that 37 per cent of NHS medical registrars complained of unmanageable workloads, that NHS staff were reaching the point of crisis and that the NHS would have difficulty in providing the best patient care without an urgent review of NHS employees’ workloads.

Additionally, a 2013 survey by Unite concluded that 61% of NHS staff worked more hours than they were contracted to do either frequently or always. Further, 85% of those who responded to the survey claimed to have heavier workloads over the past year. The head of health of Unite was quoted as saying, “With the cuts and restructuring … in the NHS, people have to work longer hours, under more stress…this is simply unsustainable. It they are too tired to work Unite would strongly advise staff to inform their managers in order to protect patient safety, but it is symptomatic of the culture of fear that exists in many trusts if staff do not feel that they can.”

Our team of specialist Medical negligence lawyers at Chadwick Lawrence strongly believe that it is never acceptable for any person responsible for patient care to sleep on duty and that there is no excuse for this. Such behaviour is likely to result in an unacceptable standard of care being provided to patients and mistakes being made, which could result in injuries and deaths. The NHS should also provide sufficient staff numbers to avoid employees being overworked and stressed,  which can lead to mistakes.

As expert claimant medical and clinical negligence solicitors we have a wealth of expertise in dealing with Medical negligence compensation claims. If you or someone you know has been injured as a result of Medical negligence, Chadwick Lawrence LLP’s expert clinical and Medical negligence lawyers can help you obtain justice and compensation.

Please contact our specialist Medical negligence solicitors for free legal advice on Freephone 0800 028 2969

Posted by Jacqueline Vance, Associate, Chadwick Lawrence LLP, medical and clinical negligence solicitors and lawyers in Huddersfield, Wakefield, Halifax, Leeds, Bradford, West Yorkshire.

http://www.chadwicklawrence.co.uk;

Freephone 0800 028 2969.

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