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NHS Fife nurse says conditions ‘unsafe for patients and staff’ due to shortage of workers

Staff are fed up of being pushed from pillar to post.
Staff are fed up of being pushed from pillar to post.

An NHS Fife nurse claims a lack of staff is putting people at risk.

The nurse, who works in Kirkcaldy’s Victoria Hospital, gives a damning insight into ward life.

The whistleblower says staff numbers are low, morale is lower and management need to start talking to workers face to face.

NHS fife covid visitors visiting
Staff raised concerns.

And her claims are backed up by Unison’s Fife Health Branch and local MSP Alex Rowley.

The nurse admits she was working with just another nurse and an auxiliary on a recent shift.

“We were looking after 12 patients each, including three who were acutely unwell.

“People deserve to know the truth – there’s nothing positive about the NHS right now.”

“Some of them had gone through surgery, one was having a blood transfusion.

“I think that’s unsafe – both for the patients and the staff,” she alleges.

“I’m frightened for the safety of patients and my own registration – everyone’s the same.

“I want to leave but I can’t afford to.

Nurses feel under pressure.

“We were told to ‘get used’ to only having two staff on a ward by a senior member of staff.

“Sometimes we don’t get a break because there’s no cover. We are all physically exhausted.

“I thought to myself recently, if I keep going the way I’m going, I’m going to end up a patient myself.

“People deserve to know the truth – there’s nothing positive about the NHS right now.

“We are in a rut and we can’t get out of it – we simply have not got enough staff.”

‘It’s the way we’re treated’

The nurse adds management are too removed from the reality of life on the wards.

Staff feel unappreciated and she says: “We’re just a number, going into a ward to look after patients.

“I get upset, I’m a very dedicated person. But I get really frustrated because there’s nobody to turn to.

“I’m so disheartened – and I’m not the only one. It’s not new and it’s been going on for a while.

“The public need to know – patients aren’t getting the care they need and deserve.”

Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy.

Wilma Brown, Unison Fife Health branch, says she hears similar concerns on a daily basis from “lots of other nurses”.

“The situation is intolerable and completely unsustainable.

“Staff are exhausted, working short, worrying about the things they don’t have time to do for patients, being redeployed to areas they don’t usually work in, constantly being harassed about working extra shifts or running over their normal hours.

“I genuinely don’t know how they are still standing.

Morale is low, says Unison Fife Health Branch.

“Morale is at an all-time low.

“There just isn’t any light at the end of the tunnel.

“With the high vacancy rate and high absence rate, it looks like they will be in this position for many months to come.”

Fife MSP Alex Rowley says it’s time management and Scottish Government ministers listen.

He’s now demanding a meeting with Health Secretary Humza Yousaf MSP on the issues and says a fully resourced staffing plan is needed.

MSP Alex Rowley
MSP Alex Rowley calls it “heart-breaking”.

He adds he finds it “heart-breaking”.

“They’re fast reaching burnout, whilst senior management and ministers ignore their warnings.

“They have to take their heads out the sand and address the growing challenges being faced by nurses, doctors and all staff working on our NHS frontline.”

Ensuring hospitals are safe

NHS Fife’s director of nursing, Janette Owens, says the safety of patients is the first priority and they’re committed to ensuring hospitals are safe.

Kirkcaldy's Victoria Hospital
Kirkcaldy’s Victoria Hospital, where daily huddles take place.

A daily safety huddle is held at Victoria Hospital to make sure staffing is in place, attended by a representative from every ward.

Staffing levels are also continually monitored throughout the day and night but she admits they’re experiencing “significant pressures on our staffing”, despite recruitment.

What are the pressures?

Issues at the moment include:

“The reality is, we now require a far larger nursing workforce than needed previously,” Janette says.

“That’s due to the ongoing challenges associated with Covid, the subsequent vaccination programme and the unprecedented demand we are seeing currently.”

NHS Fife says it is facing pressures.

Staff who want to voice concerns can do so without fear or repercussion and anonymously and concerns are captured and looked into, Janette adds.

“We have a whistleblowing champion on our board to help promote the culture of whistleblowing across the organisation.

“Our staff are actively encouraged to highlight any concerns they may have.”

“We do not take their dedication for granted.”

She adds staff welfare is “hugely important” and they’re making as much support available as possible.

“We do not take their incredible dedication for granted.”

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