Responding to the latest NHS England waiting list data, RCN Director for England, Patricia Marquis, said:
“We have heard the opening salvo of the general election in the last ten days and the future of the NHS appears central to all campaigns. All parties must show they have the answers and the funding that meets the challenge shown in these figures.
“Politicians made bold promises about waiting lists, but they’ll be broken whilst there are still enormous gaps in the nursing workforce.
“Hospital staff are already stretched to the limit, with one nurse caring for 10, 15 or more patients at a time. It’s exhausting and unsafe.
“There must be urgent investment in growing the nursing workforce. Student tuition fees scrapped, and more incentives to stay in the profession. The government needs to get a grip urgently on this worsening crisis.”
Ends
Notes to Editors
Data from NHS England shows the number of people in England waiting to start routine hospital treatment has risen to a new record high.An estimated 7.75 million people were waiting to start treatment at the end of August, up from 7.68 million in July.
