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Minimum nurse to patient ratios in hospitals across parts of Australia have reduced the risk of death by seven per cent
(PA)
New research examining the effect of minimum nurse-to-patient ratios has found it reduces the risks of those in care dying by up to 11 per cent.
The study, published in The Lancet, also said fewer patients were readmitted and they had shorter stays in hospital.
It compared 400,000 patients and 17,000 nurses working in 27 hospitals in Queensland, Australia to 28 other hospitals. The state has a policy of just one nurse to every four patients during the day and one to seven at night, in a bid to improve safety and standards of care.