Responding to the latest NHS England data, RCN Director for England, Patricia Marquis, said:
“As we begin a new year, the NHS is buckling before our eyes. The pressures are immense with flu cases surging while staff absences rise dramatically.
“On top of this, the vast majority of adult general and acute hospital beds are full - around 94% - including tens of thousands of patients who are fit to be discharged but cannot be because of a severe lack of community and social care services.
“A key part of the problem is the record nursing vacancies across health and social care. But until nurses are paid fairly and appropriately, even more will leave the profession. The workforce crisis will get worse and patients will suffer.
“Ministers can begin to fix this by valuing the nursing profession properly and paying nurses fairly in order to retain and recruit the staff that patients need.”
Ends
Notes to Editors
The latest NHS Urgent and Emergency Care Daily Situation Report is available here.
