NAO report: NHS cash on suspensions could train 700 nurses - Burstow

7.00.00pm GMT Thu 6th Nov 2003

Doctors on lengthy suspensions are a drain on NHS resources. The money wasted could pay for 700 nurses, Paul Burstow MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary, said today in response to the National Audit Office report on Suspensions of Clinical Staff. The report estimates an annual cost to the NHS of £29m (spent on legal fees and agency cover) due to suspensions.

Paul Burstow MP said:

"It is traumatic for the clinician and a huge waste of NHS resources to have doctors suspended for long periods. Patient safety must be a top priority in the NHS but the £29m cost of suspensions would be enough to train over 700 nurses.

"There needs to be an open culture for reporting mistakes. Problems with staff must be tackled quickly and suspensions should be a last resort. Patient safety must be paramount, so if someone is suspended there must be an efficient system to alert other NHS employers."

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