21
Apr 2015
Immediate action needed to increase nurse numbers
A report by the Royal College of Nursing has warned that the next government must take immediate action to increase NHS nurse numbers.
According to the RCN, if health visitors, school nurses and midwives are not included, there are fewer nurses now than in 2010. It said that a significant factor in the shortage was the government cuts to nurse training places in 2010, which led to a reduction of 3,375 places.
The report stated that there was no shortage of people wanting to do the job, as last year 50,000 people applied to become nurses, and there were only 21,000 places. The report also said that as it takes three years for nurses to qualify, the cuts are having an impact on the availability of nurses right now.
There is also an ageing workforce amongst nursing staff, with around 45% being over 45.
Dr Peter Carter, chief executive and general secretary of the RCN, said “We warned that cutting the workforce numbers to fund the NHS reorganisation and to find the efficiency savings was the wrong course to take.
“The cuts were so severe that we are only just catching up with where we were five years ago.
“Many areas, like district nursing and mental health, are even worse off.
“While the health service has spent the last five years running on the spot, demand has continued to increase.
“Whoever forms the next government must learn from this report and take immediate action to grow the nursing workforce, and ensure it can keep up with demand with a sustainable and long-term plan.”
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Posted by Tony May, Partner/head of 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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