Does a lack of staff mean poor healthcare?

You would think it was one of those questions with such an obvious answer that it shouldn’t be asked in the first place.  But here it is:  is there a direct link between the number of staff available on a ward and good or bad patient care?

The debate has arisen because Harry Cayton, chief executive of the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence, claimed in the Health Service Journal that there is no direct link.

Instinctively, you would think this has to be wrong and certainly the number of scandals recently where patients have been neglected does make you wonder if it is partly caused by pressure on staff (as well as poor quality of care in general).

But now nursing leaders have got cross at Mr Cayton and have drawn up a consensus statement on the need for higher staffing levels.

They are also urging colleagues to ‘make a stand’ over the issue of staff shortages which they say are putting patients’ lives at risk.

Following a round table discussion – described as a summit of eminent nurse leaders and workforce experts – they agreed that getting the numbers wrong also costs money, results in poor care, low staff morale and high staff turnover.

Mr Cayton’s argument is against mandating staffing levels.  He says that the causes of poor quality care are ‘complex and many’ and can include not having a good team put together as well as a lack of compassion and respect.The Department of Health told the Nursing Standard that trusts must match their staffing levels to the care their patients need so they can deliver the best service.

But that does not really move the debate on at all because that is stating the obvious.

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