Responding to the latest NHS England urgent and emergency care daily situation reports, RCN Director for England, Patricia Marquis, said:
“These figures highlight the severe strain the health secretary himself recently admitted that the healthcare system is under.
“It doesn’t bode well when adult bed occupancy in hospitals is already at 95%, well above the recommended safe level.
“Workforce shortages and low pay have made care unsafe – that’s why we are preparing to announce our first strike dates.
“We are fighting for change, to rectify the decade of real-terms pay cuts that is pushing people out of the profession.
“It is up to politicians what happens next – they can halt this at any point by presenting a pay offer that reflects nursing's valuable expertise.”
Ends
Notes to editors
NHS England’s urgent and emergency care daily situation report 2022-23 is available here.
