Merseyside hospitals which declared “critical incidents”, when the level of disruption at a hospital results in the organisation losing its ability to deliver critical services, last week have now stood the alerts down.
However, a nurse revealed that there are still major problems at the locations, suggesting the problems are unabated.
Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Aintree University Hospital, Arrowe Park Hospital and Whiston Hospital all issued the incidents.
Olivia Blankstone, a student nurse from Liverpool, said:
“I’m currently on placement in Whiston and I have noticed on all my placements there is staff shortages and unfortunately nurses and doctors do 12-hour shifts.”
“They are sleep deprived, leading to errors in drug medication rounds. I’ve seen doctors prescribing doses and nurses giving it, and doctors realising it is incorrect.”
She explained that the problem is not only with overworked staff but also too many people to cope with:
“We’ve also got overpopulation now. As a nurse you are given a certain number of patients, sometimes up to 14, but you can’t meet 14 patients’ needs in a 12-hour shift. It’s not possible and this has a big impact on the healthcare system”
Listen to the full interview with Olivia here:
