Understanding WArd Strain - Effects on Patients and Staff (WASPS)

A nurse on a hospital ward is trying to care for six patients while another patient down the corridor is deteriorating rapidly, and there is no one else to help. This project will study what makes a ward feel dangerously busy—not just patient numbers, but the mix of tasks, administrative burdens, and the sudden arrival of acutely unwell patients. Most NHS care happens on wards, yet almost all research on workload and safety has focused on emergency departments and intensive care units. The WASPS project will fill that gap by interviewing staff, patients, and carers, and observing ward life directly. If it succeeds, the findings could help hospital managers redesign shift patterns, task allocation, and support systems to reduce staff burnout and prevent patient harm. The impact would be felt in quieter, safer wards where nurses can actually focus on the people in their care.