Severe exhaustion among NHS staff is placing both patients and healthcare professionals at serious risk, according to a stark new report from England’s national health safety body.
The Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB) has highlighted that staff fatigue is contributing to critical errors in patient care, including medication mistakes, impaired clinical judgement, and disrespectful conduct.
The report warns that sleep-deprived doctors and nurses are not only more prone to errors, but also face risks to their own safety—especially while driving home after shifts.
Fatigue Behind Serious NHS Safety Incidents
The HSSIB cited several alarming examples in its investigation, including incorrect pregnancy scans and mishandled chemotherapy doses.
In one tragic case, both a mother and newborn were harmed due to an inaccurate scan performed by a fatigued staff member. Another incident involved staff administering chemotherapy nearly nine hours into a 12.5-hour shift, following limited sleep and inadequate rest breaks.
The watchdog’s findings suggest that the current NHS environment—characterised by long shifts, staff shortages, and high workloads—is cultivating chronic fatigue among healthcare workers. Staff reported routinely working on minimal sleep, with some admitting to nodding off while driving home.
Calls for System-Wide Reform
Fatigue is often mischaracterised within the NHS as a personal wellbeing issue rather than a patient safety risk, the report notes. Senior investigator Saskia Fursland urged a paradigm shift, stating:
“Fatigue must be seen as a system-level threat—not a personal failing. Its impact on decision-making and alertness cannot be ignored.”
Dr Latifa Patel of the British Medical Association (BMA) echoed these concerns, noting that doctors are frequently forced to work consecutive long shifts with inadequate rest. She called for urgent reform in rota planning, staff facilities, and recruitment strategies to tackle the root causes of burnout.
NHS England Response
In response, a spokesperson for NHS England acknowledged the toll that current pressures are taking on staff and reiterated a commitment to supporting the workforce.
“Staff wellbeing is critical to patient safety. Flexible working, mental health support, and open channels for reporting safety concerns—including those linked to fatigue—are being expanded across the NHS.”
However, campaigners argue that monitoring systems for fatigue are still lacking and that more collaboration with unions and frontline staff is essential to mitigate risk and protect both patients and healthcare professionals.
