NHS patients more likely to die when ambulance crews off sick, study shows
Unexpected staff shortages in ambulance services are costing lives, with patients significantly more likely to die within 24 hours when ambulance workers are off sick, according to new research. The study, by researchers at the Universities of York and Surrey, suggests that older people, those with the most serious conditions and patients needing care during busy winter periods are the most…
Unexpected absences due to ambulance staff sickness prove deadly for patients, a new study indicates. Research from the Universities of York and Surrey reveals that unexpected staff shortages lead to higher mortality rates within 24 hours of patients arriving at hospital emergency departments. The study, analyzing over 11 million ambulance journeys to English emergency departments between 2013 and 2018, found that when unexpected staff sickness was higher than usual, deaths increased by 0.78%.
However, planned absences like annual leave did not have a similar impact. Older patients, those with serious conditions, and those requiring care during busy winter periods were most affected. Professor Cheti Nicoletti from the University of York emphasized the critical role of ambulance crews as the first link in the emergency care chain.
Professor Giuseppe Moscelli from the University of Surrey stressed that every stage of the ambulance response is vital, and their findings show that unexpected staff shortages can be fatal, especially for vulnerable patients. The researchers argue that investing in ambulance workforce resilience, including staff retention and burnout reduction, should be a top patient safety priority.
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