Patients 'At Risk' From Overworked Doctors

One of the Britain's most senior doctors has warned that lives are being put at risk because hospital doctors are under constant "strain and stress".

The president of the Royal College of Physicians, Sir Richard Thompson, attacked ministers over NHS budget cuts that he says are threatening the standard of care because doctors are "missing symptoms".

He claimed some doctors are facing caseloads during one shift of up to 70 patients - far more than the maximum 20 regarded necessary for proper care.

And he said worrying number of hospitals, especially smaller ones, face "serious" gaps in their medical rotas.

In an interview with the Guardian, Sir Richard said: "You try standing on your feet for seven hours trying to be on the ball, thinking of the various complications, being nice to patients, for seven hours. It's absolutely destructive.

"Not everyone has 70, but most people are looking after well over 20.

"If you've got over 20 it becomes impossible. The care gets thinner and thinner. It means the consultant can't see the patient as much or indeed as early as they should do, so obviously the standard of care is going to fall."

Sir Richard claims doctors are missing patients' vital signs

Sir Richard accused the coalition of cutting the NHS budget despite repeated pledges, including from David Cameron, to protect it from the austerity programme.

"In spite of what weasly words people at the top say, money's been taken out of the NHS," he said, citing the £2.8bn that has been given to social care in the past three years.

As a result, he claimed: "The NHS is under-doctored, under-nursed, under-bedded and under-funded. There are too few doctors to do the increasingly large job to a high standard, and safely, and compassionately."

A Department of Health spokesman responded by saying: "Patient safety and care is a priority for the Government and it is right that we have high expectations for our NHS.

"While the NHS is one of the safest, most efficient healthcare systems in the world we should never shy away from trying to improve standards for patients."

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