Polish audit finds 90% of university hospitals violate work standards, risking patient safety

A new report by Poland's Supreme Audit Office (NIK) reveals widespread violations of work organization standards in university hospitals, posing a direct threat to patient safety. The audit examined 10 university clinical hospitals across Poland, finding that 90% of them routinely failed to provide medical staff with the legally mandated 11 hours of uninterrupted rest between shifts.

The report highlights a particularly alarming case where a doctor worked a continuous shift lasting 70 hours and 10 minutes. NIK attributes these issues primarily to staff shortages and the fact that doctors working under civil law contracts are not subject to labor code limitations regarding working hours. This situation means that medical professionals are frequently working extended periods without adequate rest, increasing the risk of errors.

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In 90 percent of the inspected hospitals, staff routinely did not receive the required 11 hours of uninterrupted daily rest, and as many as 75 doctors and nurses worked continuously for over 24 hours. The record shift lasted 70 hours and 10 minutes.

Despite these critical findings regarding working conditions, the NIK report also noted that the clinical activities of all ten surveyed hospitals ensured the continuity of healthcare services and fulfilled their teaching and research duties between 2022 and 2024. The facilities collectively provided 8,965 hospital beds, with the Warsaw hospital having the most (2,027) and the Lodz hospital the fewest (303).

Financially, the situation varied significantly among the institutions. Hospitals in Gdansk and Zabrze appeared the most stable, maintaining positive financial results and liquidity throughout the examined period without accumulating debt. Conversely, the hospital in Warsaw faced the most severe financial challenges, operating with a chronic deficit despite showing a positive result from service sales in 2023-2024, leading to high levels of overdue liabilities. Additionally, the technical and sanitary conditions in rooms at the Warsaw and Rzeszow hospitals violated current regulations, although most other surveyed facilities met the formal requirements set by the Ministry of Health and the National Health Fund.

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In NIK's assessment, this is a direct threat to patient safety.