Concerns raised over nurse consultants covering doctors’ shifts at Birkenhead hospital

Concerns have intensified over the use of nurse consultants to cover doctors’ shifts at Arrowe Park Hospital, after an NHS trust admitted the practice was taking place despite initially denying it.

Figures obtained through a freedom of information request show nurse consultants covered more than 60 emergency medicine registrar shifts during 2024-25 and a further 41 in 2025-26 at Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

Eight medical registrar shifts were also covered by nurse consultants in 2024-25. Cardiology and respiratory nurse consultants were reportedly used to undertake post-take ward rounds normally carried out by medical consultants.

The British Medical Association has raised concerns about patient safety, transparency and clinical governance, claiming the arrangements appeared to be operating without formal policies, defined scopes of practice or documented governance approval.

The trust had initially stated that nurse consultants were not covering medical or emergency medicine registrar shifts or conducting ward rounds in place of medical consultants. It later corrected its response.

The trust has said its use of advanced practitioners is consistent with wider NHS practice. However, the BMA has written to the organisation seeking an explanation of the arrangements and assurances that patients are clearly informed about who is providing their care.

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