New figures show NHS has lost nearly 7,000 nurses in last year
Published: 24 August 2007
Responding to today’s announcement of the 2006 NHS workforce census figures, Royal College of Nursing General Secretary, Dr Peter Carter said;
“Overall clearly the numbers of nurses have increased over the last ten years. But the figures themselves show that in the last year alone the NHS has lost nearly 7,000 nurses, confirming our repeated warnings about the impact of deficit led cuts.
“And when you dig below the surface even further an estimated 17% of the headline increase in nurse numbers is made up of double counting existing nurses working extra shifts. Meanwhile internationally recruited nurses who make up a significant number of the extra nurses now face the prospect of having to leave the UK at the end of their contracts under new immigration laws
“We are also deeply concerned to see the loss of over 19,000 NHS support workers over the last year, putting even more pressure on over stretched nurses and their colleagues in the NHS team.
“With leaked government figures predicting a shortage of 14,000 nurses by 2011 and another 180,000 nurses due to retire over the next ten years, the future potentially looks bleak.
“Yes, there has been some welcome progress over the last ten years, but in the decade that lies ahead there are huge challenges that ministers must face up to and tackle.”
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Notes for 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.