Ambulance Staff Sickness Linked to Increased Patient Mortality, Study Finds

Unexpected sickness-related staff shortages in ambulance services are linked to higher short-term mortality among NHS patients, according to new research by the Universities of York and Surrey. The study found that deaths within 24 hours of hospital arrival increased by 0.78 percent when ambulance staff sickness rates were higher than usual.

The research team analyzed over 11 million ambulance journeys to emergency departments in England between 2013 and 2018. By linking ambulance workforce records with hospital and mortality data, they examined how staffing shortages impact patient survival. The findings indicated that older individuals, patients with the most severe conditions, and those requiring care during busy winter periods were most affected.

The study, published as a discussion paper, found no comparable effect from planned absences like annual leave or study leave, highlighting the distinct impact of unplanned sickness on frontline emergency care. Professors Cheti Nicoletti and Giuseppe Moscelli stated that ambulance crews are a critical part of the emergency care chain and that strengthening workforce resilience, improving retention, and reducing burnout should be a patient safety priority.

Researchers argue that these findings underscore the importance of maintaining a resilient ambulance workforce. While public debate often focuses on hospital pressures, delays and staffing issues within ambulance services before a patient reaches a hospital can have significant consequences for survival rates, particularly for vulnerable patients.