NHS rationing hitting patient care

Published: 20 June 2012

For immediate release: Wednesday 20 June 2012

Commenting on a new report published by The Labour Party showing procedures and treatments which are being rationed in the NHS, Royal College of Nursing Chief Executive & General Secretary, Dr Peter Carter, said:

“Our Frontline First campaign has been identifying cuts across the NHS for more than two years now, and this report just shows the impact those cuts are having on patients. Yes, difficult decisions do have to be made, but if you are a child with hearing loss or an older person who has problems with their mobility, these issues are not minor. By lowering the criteria for treatment further, the NHS could be costing itself more money by not fixing problems promptly and waiting for conditions to worsen. NHS organisations need to think and plan very carefully and change services in the interests of patients. Instead, some are making short-sighted cutbacks which help neither the NHS coffers or patient care.”

Ends

Notes for Editors

1. For further information, please contact the RCN Media Office on 020 7647 3633, press.office@rcn.org.uk or visit http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/media

2. The 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 nursing staff 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.