Reductions in NHS workforce can only damage patient care, says RCN
Published: 24 August 2007
Commenting on figures from National Statistics that show an 11,000 decrease in the number of NHS employees in quarter four of 2006, Dr Peter Carter, General Secretary of the RCN, said:
“These alarming figures confirm what the RCN has long been warning - that deficits are leading to seriouscuts in the NHS workforce. This can only have a damaging impact on patients and services. That's why we are urging the government to work with us to replace short-term cuts with a long-term recovery plan.”
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Notes to Editors
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Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is the voice of nursing across the UK and is the largest professional union of nursing staff in the world. The RCN promotes the interest of nurses and patients on a wide range of issues and helps shape healthcare policy by working closely with the UK Government and other national and international institutions, trade unions, professional bodies and voluntary organisations.