Medicine and Science from The BMJ cover image

Medicine and Science from The BMJ

"Incredibly distressing and incredibly dangerous"- David Miliband on healthcare attacks, and staff turnover effect on patient outcomes

Dec 4, 2024
David Miliband, the President of the International Rescue Committee and former UK Foreign Secretary, shares insights on the geopolitical factors affecting healthcare. He discusses the urgent need for humanitarian support in crisis zones like Sudan and Gaza. Giuseppe Moscelli, an economics expert from the University of Surrey, dives into new research linking staff turnover to negative patient outcomes, especially in the NHS. The conversation underscores the critical need for healthcare reforms and the importance of retaining skilled professionals for better patient care.
33:19

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Quick takeaways

  • High nurse turnover significantly affects patient outcomes, leading to increased mortality rates, especially in emergency settings.
  • Healthcare delivery in conflict zones is critically undermined by consistent attacks on facilities and personnel, challenging humanitarian laws enforcement.

Deep dives

The Role of Nurses in Patient Outcomes

Research indicates that nurse turnover significantly impacts patient outcomes, particularly in emergency settings. An increase of one standard deviation in nurse turnover is associated with an additional 35 deaths per 100,000 patients admitted to the hospital. This highlights the critical role that nurses play in patient care, as they are responsible for much of the preoperative and postoperative support. The findings suggest that maintaining a stable nursing workforce is vital for enhancing patient safety and care quality.

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