New research suggests that failure by junior doctors in their annual changeover period to identify deteriorating patients and poor prioritisation skills are likely to drive a reduction in the quality and safety of patient care.

The researchers suggest improved training, supervision and quality control could reduce omissions, errors, failure to recognise deterioration and poor task prioritisation skills.

In early August each year thousands of newly qualified doctors will take up their first hospital jobs and junior doctors will become a grade more senior.

Read the release on the Royal Society of Medicine website.