Rise in hospital nurse numbers in England ‘eclipsed by jump in patients’

Research undertaken by the Royal College of Nursing has shown that there has been an increase in the nursing workforce of 4.6% in the last five years, but that hospital admissions have risen by 12.3%, nearly three times the rate.

The union have said the research shows that more needs to be done to guarantee safe staffing.

However, the government say the increasing NHS budget will ensure high-quality care and although latest figures suggests that one in nine nursing posts is vacant, they counter that by pointing out that the number of NHS nurses is increasing.

Dame Donna Kinnair, general secretary of the RCN, said the information should act as a “stark warning”, adding “Staffing shortfalls are never simply numbers on a spreadsheet – they affect real patients in real communities.”

She added that there needs to be a new law to guarantee safe staffing, as already introduced in Scotland and Wales, and that she wanted a national body to assume responsibility for correctly planning the nursing numbers needed in the future.

The government have said that having enough staff available for the NHS is a key priority. There are currently campaigns underway to encourage nurses who have left the profession back into the NHS and the number of training places is being increased by 25%.

A spokesperson from the Department of Health and Social Care added “The safety of patients is paramount.”

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Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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