First reported 18 Oct 2013•Latest report 5 Jun 2025
Definition
What this concern includes
Includes deficiencies in the availability, experience, skill mix or deployment of clinical staff that directly delay or threaten timely surgical assessment, review, transfer or treatment, including weekend or out-of-hours cover and persistent ward staffing shortfalls.
Not included
Excludes generic workforce, funding or recruitment concerns without a direct effect on timely surgical care.
Excludes non-surgical staffing deficiencies, including mental-health, prison, social-care or emergency-call staffing, unless the report explicitly links them to surgical care.
Excludes failures of surgical decision-making, referral, equipment or bed capacity where insufficient clinical staffing is not the unsafe condition.
Excludes isolated clinician competence failures that do not indicate a staffing-capacity or cover deficiency.
Reports
5
Distinct published reports
Individual concerns
6
A report can raise multiple concerns
Date range
2013–2025
First to latest report issue date
Stated actions
10
Described in published responses
Reports over time
Reports over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
Barts Health NHS Trust1
Department of Health and Social Care1
NHS England1
Royal Stoke University Hospital1
Stepping Hill Hospital1
University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust1
Healthcare site2
NHS trust2
Executive non-departmental public body1
Ministerial department1
Concerns and responses across reports
Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.
Birmingham and Solihull
Concerns raised1
Failure to provide N+1 onsite perfusionist coverage for simultaneous out-of-hours CPB procedures
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
Determining safe perfusionist staffing levels, including out-of-hours cover, is the responsibility of individual NHS trusts and employers.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent
Concerns raised2
Failure to maintain sufficient staffing and funding capacity for timely surgery
Failure to ensure adequate and experienced staffing for Friday injuries
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.6
Action
Increase urgent and emergency care capacity, including funding additional capacity and 5,000 new beds.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 28 November 2023.
Action
Train, retain and reform the NHS workforce through the Long Term Workforce Plan.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 28 November 2023.
Action
Increase elective care capacity, prioritise diagnosis and treatment, transform care delivery, and improve patient information and support.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 28 November 2023.
Action
Develop local workforce planning and distribute future training posts to match doctors’ supply with population need.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 28 November 2023.
Action
Operate a dedicated fragility-fracture theatre list five days per week.
Stated by University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 28 November 2023.
Action
Implement seven-day clinical standards and require acute trusts to provide board assurance of compliance.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 28 November 2023.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care System is responsible for local urgent and emergency care workforce arrangements.
Stated by NHS EnglandRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Inner North London
Concerns raised1
Failure to ensure appropriate staffing arrangements for high-risk postoperative care
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
Action
Enhance out-of-hours surgical cover to provide daily review of acute inpatients seven days a week.
Stated by Barts Health NHS TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 14 August 2018.
Action
Increase surgical department doctor numbers and maintain a broader mix of skills across shifts.
Stated by Barts Health NHS TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 14 August 2018.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
Position
Seven-day operational coverage and prepared weekend staff are considered sufficient for high-risk surgery and postoperative care.
Stated by Barts Health NHS TrustExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Position
General surgical wards, skilled staff, and daily renal-team availability are considered sufficient for managing high-risk renal patients.
Stated by Barts Health NHS TrustExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Staffordshire South
Concerns raised1
Lack of surgical cover at County Hospital
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
Action
Realign surgical services so County Hospital has no inpatient general surgery and senior surgeons remain available on site through continuing day-case services.
Stated by University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 11 February 2018.
Action
Introduce and operate a surgical referral procedure providing on-site consultant coverage, same-day review efforts, and direct referral access to the responsible consultant.
Stated by University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 11 February 2018.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
Existing consultant surgeons and the surgical referral procedure provide surgical availability at County Hospital, so additional mid-grade surgical cover is not indicated.
Stated by University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS TrustExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Manchester South
Concerns raised1
Insufficient surgeon capacity for laparoscopic surgery and urgent patient assessment
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
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Includes deficiencies in the availability, experience, skill mix or deployment of clinical staff that directly delay or threaten timely surgical assessment, review, transfer or treatment, including weekend or out-of-hours cover and persistent ward staffing shortfalls.
