UK Hospitals Use Nurses to Cover Doctor Shortages, Raising Safety Concerns

Safety fears as UK hospitals use nurses to cover for doctors due to shortage of medics

Exclusive: Advanced practitioners are being deployed to cover doctor rota gaps across the NHS, figures show UK hospitals are using nurses to cover for doctors because of an NHS-wide shortage of medics, raising fears that “substitute doctors” may provide inferior care. Health professionals known as advanced practitioners – who are mainly senior nurses – are undertaking roles usually performed by doctors in A&E, neonatal units, critical care and other areas. Continue reading...

By Denis Campbell Health policy editor