What difference have safe-staffing policies made to NHS hospitals?

In this article…

• The changes to policy made in response to the Francis inquiries

• How policy changes have been implemented locally by trusts

• Levels of nursing staff across different sectors since the new policy

Abstract

The Francis inquiries in 2010 and 2013 highlighted nurse staffing as a patient safety factor that contributed to the care failings at Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust. These reports and the government’s response led to a national safe-staffing policy for all NHS acute hospitals. A study by the University of Southampton and Bangor University has examined the impact the policy has had in practice and found that a number of factors influence local implementation of the policy and that board awareness of staffing issues has improved. However, trusts are also constrained by external pressures such as the resources and workforce supply required.