RCN warns of unsafe staffing levels

As it opened its annual conference in Glasgow, the union published the results of its ‘last shift' survey, which asks nurses about staffing levels. Eight in 10 (83%) of respondents said that, on their last shift, there was not enough nursing staff to meet all patient needs safely and effectively.

Only 25% said the shift had the planned number of registered nurses and 18% believed they had enough time to provide the level of care they would like. More than half felt demoralised on their last shift, and one in five felt unable to raise their concerns with superiors.

RCN general secretary and chief executive Pat Cullen (pictured) said: ‘These results speak for themselves. The risk to patients, to services and to health and care staff is simply unacceptable. The complacency from governments across the UK is unacceptable.

‘Our members are nursing under unsustainable pressure, and governments are risking lives by failing to take urgent action. Together, we’re determined to use our position as the leading voice of nursing to be the greatest champion of high-quality patient care.’

The union called on the Westminster and devolved governments to ‘take accountability for nursing workforce planning and supply in law, and immediately publish independently verifiable assessments of population health needs’. It added that these figures should directly inform investment in the nursing workforce.

Ms Cullen is due to warn at the conference that nurses are being driven away from the NHS by staff shortages and poor culture. She will say: ‘To those from government listening to my words – we've had enough. The patients and those we care for have had enough.

‘We're tired, fed up, demoralised, and some of us are leaving the profession because we've lost hope. Do something about it.’

NHS Confederation policy director Layla McCay said: ‘This is the latest in a long line of reports that lays bare the impact of staff shortages on the care patients are receiving. We urgently need the government to commit to producing a fully costed and funded workforce plan for the NHS to help close the gap on the 105,000 vacancies we now have.’

NHS leaders had worried for some time that chronic staff shortages were undermining efforts to address the care backlog and rising demand. She added: ‘We need to see more funding and support for training and professional development for staff and we also need to see a pay rise for NHS staff, especially for those on lower pay bands. Until these are forthcoming, the government must be honest with the public about what people can expect from the NHS during this period of strain.'