![Royal college warns of NHS ‘workforce disaster’ which threatens a million operations and could cost lives](https://chadlaw.dnsupdate.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/GettyImages-844400552-724x388.jpg)
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Dec 2020
Royal college warns of NHS ‘workforce disaster’ which threatens a million operations and could cost lives
With nine out of ten hospitals reporting at least one vacancy, over a million operations could be delayed due to widespread shortages of anaesthetists in the NHS.
More than 140,000 NHS patients have already waited over a year for treatment due to the pandemic, and the Health Foundation have warned that 4.7 million fewer patients have been referred for treatment because of the impact of coronavirus on NHS services.
The Royal College of Anaesthetists have now said the scale of the vacancies was getting worse and labelled it a “workforce disaster” that could cost patients’ lives and have a widespread impact on hospital services.
They added that there was a gap of 1,410 anaesthetists in the health service and each one of those would treat around 750 patients a year, meaning the equivalent of over a million operations being put at risk.
Hamish McLure, who led work on the census, said “We are standing on the edge of a workforce disaster.
“Many operations and surgical lists will be cancelled at short notice on the day. There will be no slack in the system. That’s a massive pain for patients but it’s a real problem for their health. It can affect the outcome. It could cost their lives.
“We know two-thirds of consultants work more than 40 hours a week. If people work excessive numbers of hours then that leads to stress, fatigue, burnout and within that patient care can suffer and staff can suffer. Suicide in anaesthesia is a real problem.”
Chadwick Lawrence’s specialist team of clinical negligence lawyers have years of experience in medical negligence claims, providing support and guidance after life-changing events. Not only do we represent clients in Yorkshire, but because of our reputation we also represent clients nationally.
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Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.
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