The NHS safety watchdog has raised concerns that extreme fatigue among staff poses serious risks to patient safety, leading to issues like medication errors and impaired decision-making. Limited data exists on the problem, but surveys and expert opinions point to fatigue as a contributing factor in safety incidents. Mistakes in pregnancy scans and chemotherapy were highlighted, with staff citing overwhelming workload and sleep deprivation. The report emphasizes the dangerous implications of staff fatigue, which includes risks to staff themselves, calling for the NHS to prioritize addressing this issue as a safety concern rather than merely a wellbeing one.
Extreme tiredness and exhaustion among NHS staff significantly risks patient safety, leading to medication errors and impaired decision-making, warns England's NHS safety watchdog.
Evidence from surveys and safety experts indicate fatigue among NHS staff contributes to safety incidents, with examples highlighting serious mistakes in critical cases.
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