From June 2014 it became a national requirement for all hospitals to publish information about staffing levels on wards, including the percentage of shifts meeting their agreed staffing levels. This initiative is part of the NHS response to the Francis report which called for greater openness and transparency in the health service.
Monitoring / escalation
We have a system in place for monitoring staffing on a daily basis. There is also a process for escalating any concerns and ensuring actions are taken. The acuity/dependency of patients (how sick or dependent they are) is also monitored closely as this ultimately affects that type and amount of care they need.
Setting establishments is complex and having the right staff, with the right skills, in the right place is about more than the numbers and type of staff (registered and unregistered) but is also about leadership, culture, support and education.
