FAMILIES have hit out at health board bosses after claiming relatives' wellbeing is being compromised by staff shortages at Glasgow's biggest hospital.  

Whistleblowers say that under-pressure medics are struggling to keep Ward 5B of Glasgow's Queen Elizabeth University Hospital operating to a 'satisfactory level'.

One family member contacted the Glasgow Times to say they were worried, not only about the people receiving care but about the increasing burden on doctors and nursing staff there.

He said: "My relative was on Ward 5B and I have to say I was concerned by what I witnessed.  

"The demands on the staff are clearly having an impact on the quality of care people are receiving, but there is only so much you can do when you don't have the manpower.  

"Our NHS staff have done a fantastic job during the pandemic and out the other side.

"Statistics show that our hospitals are failing, and that is because there aren't the people to make them run effectively and efficiently.  

"I could only see a couple of nursing staff on the ward while I was visiting. They were run ragged and doing their best, but there is only so much a pair of people can do. They were overwhelmed.”  

Glasgow Times:

Another concerned relative added: “The worry is that the people working on this ward are going to burn out. Then more are off sick, absent with stress or worse, decide that there is a better way to make a living.  

“After spending time on Ward 5B at the Queen Elizabeth, I really feel for the NHS staff.  

"Our health service is in crisis and needs sorted out sooner rather than later."

READ MORE: Around 200 NHS workers facing redundancy in Scotland

Hospital chiefs have admitted that the flagship facility - which has been plagued by problems since opening in April 2017 - is not immune to the same staffing pressures as facilities elsewhere in Scotland.  

A spokesperson for NHSGGC said: "We fully understand the significant pressures faced by our teams and we would like to thank them for their continuing hard work and commitment in these difficult times. However, the safety and care of our patients alongside the wellbeing of our staff is at all times our absolute priority.

"Our priority is to ensure there are safe staffing levels in all our wards through using available resources as effectively as possible to support our staff. Where any staffing gaps are identified, we will look to move staff between wards as appropriate and use our significant pool of bank staff or agency staff.

"Like all health boards, there are ongoing staffing challenges within hospitals across NHSGGC, and we continue to work hard to recruit additional staff. In 2022 we welcomed 50 internationally trained nurses who joined 543 additional registered nurses, 710 newly qualified nurses and midwives and 500 healthcare support workers among more than 1500 other new staff."

"If any patient or their relative has concerns about staffing on our wards, we would encourage them to speak to the Ward's Senior Charge Nurse in the first instance who can help address or direct their concerns.”