RCN: the fewer staff there are, the more mistakes are made

Published: 15 April 2009

The Royal College of Nursing has said that not having enough staff may result in mistakes being made.

The comments follow the publication of statistics obtained by the Daily Mirror in a Freedom of Information request. These show that at least 4,000 patients were put at risk in the last year due to avoidable errors by staff.

RCN Chief Executive & General Secretary, Dr. Peter Carter said:

"It is always deeply concerning to learn of any mistakes which have endangered the life of a patient. But the fewer staff there are, the more mistakes are made."

2,221 of the errors were described as serious, and resulted in deaths, injuries and patients being left in severe pain.