RCN survey highlights health care staffing pressures

Published: 19 October 2009

The Royal College of Nursing is today publishing results from its 2009 Employment Survey, which highlights how pressures on workload and staffing levels can impact on patient care.

The survey shows fewer nurses responding positively to views on workload than in 2007, particularly those working in the NHS. Over half of the respondents (55%) say that there aren't enough staff to meet patient needs and that nurses are looking after more patients on the wards.

RCN Chief Executive Dr Peter Carter says that the survey shows that health care staff are exhausted by the pressure to make efficiencies and frustrated by being prevented from delivering the quality of care they want to provide.

"Staff are concerned that they are delivering the basics but are unable to provide the full range of quality care they would like," he says.

Findings from the RCN's Labour Market Review, published at the same time, also warn of a shortfall in the number of nurses in coming years. Approximately 200,000 nurses are expected to retire in the next ten years, there will be fewer newly qualified nurses and as a result of restrictions on migration fewer nurses will be moving to the UK, the report shows. The RCN expects the impact to be felt in community settings earlier and harder as nurses working in nursing homes, general practice and NHS community nursing tend to be older than other registered nurses.

Dr Carter adds:

"The nursing workforce has grown in recent years but only just enough to keep up with rising demands on health care. We expect the next few years will be the most challenging for staff levels in decades, especially with the drive to provide more services in the community."

The RCN is also launching its general election manifesto to coincide with the launch of the 2009 Employment Survey and labour market review.

Further information

'Past imperfect, future tense' is the RCN's 22nd Employment Survey and covers the views of 9000 nurses. It was conducted by Employment Research Ltd on behalf of the RCN. Read: Past imperfect, future tense (PDF 522KB). [see how to access PDF files]

Read the UK nursing labour market review 'Difficult times, difficult choices' (PDF 218KB) . [see how to access PDF files]

Read the RCN news story RCN launches general election manifesto.