Raising concerns letter
Due to the current unsustainable pressures across the UK health and social care sectors and the shortage of nursing staff, you may have concerns about issues that will impact patient care or safety.
Copy and paste our model letter below
Dear [send to line manager and their manager or Director of Nursing],
As a Registered Nurse, I have an obligation under the Nursing and Midwifery Council code to raise and escalate any concerns about issues that will impact patient care or safety. My professional body and trade union (the RCN) has published Nursing Workforce Standards for the UK. Standards 1 and 2 outline how the nursing workforce should be reported and discussed at every organisational board or accountable body meeting.
As my employer, under health and safety legislation (Health and Safety at Work Act 1974) you have a duty of care towards your staff and the patients they care for and should therefore take all reasonably practicable steps to address these concerns.
I am raising a concern that there were not enough nursing staff today to deliver safe care. This was because: [Add detail as appropriate - examples: staff were off sick/there were rota gaps due to vacancies/patient acuity exceeded the staffing].
As a Registered Nurse, I always act to deliver safe and effective care to patients and uphold the highest professional standards. I have done all I can, however care is currently being compromised which now becomes a risk.
I intend to share a copy of this letter with my professional body and trade union, the Royal College of Nursing.
Yours sincerely,
[Insert name]
