What difference have safe staffing policies made to hospitals in the NHS?

Abstract

The Francis inquiries in 2010 and 2013 highlighted nurse staffing as a patient safety factor contributing to the care failings identified at Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust. The reports and government response led to the development of national ‘safe staffing’ policy.

Research had previously shown that a relationship exists between levels of nurse staffing, and the quality and safety of patient care provided. Low registered nurse staffing levels are associated with worse patient outcomes, creating ‘unsafe’ conditions. Prior to 2013, decisions to assess and review staffing levels were taken locally with little national guidance on staffing levels. The second Francis Inquiry prompted the development of National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines for ‘safe staffing’ in all NHS acute hospitals.

A two-year study undertaken by the University of Southampton and Bangor University set out to look at the costs and consequences of implementing safe staffing policy, and to identify the factors influencing local responses. This Evidence Brief describes the findings of this research, looking at how NHS safe staffing policy has been implemented locally and nationally, and what impact safe staffing policies have had in practice.

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Identifiers

ORCID for Jane Ball: orcid.org/0000-0002-8655-2994

ORCID for Christina Saville: orcid.org/0000-0001-7718-5689

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