Staff shortages in South Africa pose a “significant threat” to patient safety, according to 91% of doctors who responded to a recent survey, with 89% saying the impact on patients is harming their own mental well-being.
MedicalBrief reports that in the Medical Protection Society (MPS) survey of more than 660 healthcare practitioners, many respondents said medication shortages (66%) and equipment shortages (45%) also affected patient safety: more than 90% said these shortages are affecting their own mental well-being.
Respondents from state healthcare facilities spoke of their distress at seeing patients suffer from the continually dwindling supply of staff, medication and equipment.
One said: “No gloves or appropriate size. No proper suture material, no stock at times to place a cast. As a clinician working, who will take the fall if something goes wrong due to shortages? I will, and that is a worry.”
Others spoke of the stress of having to substitute or use medication that is not as effective, and the impact on their patients.
MPS said more needed to be done to tackle the worrying impact of severely under-resourced environments on both patients and doctors.
Dr Volker Hitzeroth, medico-legal consultant at MPS, said: “The critical shortage of doctors and the medicine stock-outs are long-standing, multi-dimensional issues. While we recognise the difficulties in resolving these problems, the impact on patient safety and on the doctors who are trying to do their best for their patients, is worrying.
“When patient safety is at risk, doctors also feel vulnerable to complaints, regulatory investigations, clinical negligence claims and even criminal charges, which creates additional stress and pressure.
“We need more mental well-being resources to be established so those struggling with moral distress can get appropriate support. We also need to ensure those needing time off to recuperate can take it – without adding to staff shortages or detracting from patient care.”
Hitzeroth said the survey showed that around two in five of doctors who are considering leaving the healthcare profession cite, staff, equipment or medicine shortages as a major influence in their decision.
Key findings of the survey were:
• 91% of doctors in South Africa believe staff shortages pose a “significant threat” to patient safety
• 89% of doctors said that staff shortages and their impact on patient safety, was affecting their own mental well-being
• 45% said shortages of medical equipment were affecting patient safety
• 96% said shortages of medical equipment was affecting their own mental well-being
• 66% said shortages of medications were affecting patient safety
• 91% said shortages of medications were affecting their own mental well-being
• 82% said staff shortages make it difficult to take time off to deal with mental well-being issues
• 87% said that they cannot see staffing levels improving in the foreseeable future
• 47% of doctors who considering leaving the medical profession cited staff shortages as a major influence for their decision
• 43% of doctors considering leaving the medical profession cited shortages of medication and the impact on patient safety as a major influence for their decision
• 36% of doctors considering leaving the medical profession cited medical equipment shortages and the impact on patient safety as a major influence for their decision
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
Survey highlights mental well-being of SA doctors
How to manage frustration from working in resource-constrained institutions
Practitioner burnout contributing to clinical errors — MPS survey