More than 4,000 people could be dying per year because of high turnover rates of nurses and doctors in NHS hospitals, according to new research from the University of Surrey. The research has shown a clear association between high turnover rates of nurses and doctors in NHS hospitals and a troubling rise in patient mortality rates. The study, published in The BMJ, analyzed nearly a decade of data from 148 NHS acute hospitals in England using anonymized patient and worker records.
The researchers found that a one standard deviation increase in nurse turnover is associated with 35 additional deaths per 100,000 hospital admissions within 30 days. For senior doctors, a similar increase in the turnover rates correlates with an additional 14 deaths per 100,000 admissions. With an average of 8.
2 million hospital admissions occurring annually, the turnover rates of hospital nurses and senior doctors could translate to nearly 335 additional deaths each month across the NHS. Our findings underscore the vital role that stable staffing plays in ensuring patient safety. High turnover rates are not simply an administrative issue; they have real, life-or-death implications for patients.
It's time for healthcare leaders to focus on retention strategies that prioritise workforce stability." Dr. Giuseppe Moscelli, Associate Professor in Economics and lead researcher of the study, University of Surrey The research uses extensive datasets, which include over 236,000 nurses and 41,800 senior doct.