RCN calls for guaranteed safe staffing levels as workload pressures soar

Published: 16 October 2009

The RCN today (19 October) calls for guaranteed safe staffing levels as it reveals that four in ten nurses (42%) say that short staffing compromises patient care at least once or twice a week.

The call comes in the RCN's manifesto to all political parties issued ahead of the next general election. The RCN is publishing its 2009 Employment Survey to coincide with the manifesto, which highlights how pressures on workload and staffing levels can impact on patient care.

The Employment Survey shows fewer nurses responding positively to views on workload than in 2007, particularly those working in the NHS. Four out of ten (42%) nurses say that short staffing compromises patient care at least once a week. Other findings include:

• Over half of nurses (55%) say they are too busy to provide the level of care they would like
• Almost two thirds of NHS nurses (61%) consider their workload is too heavy and that they are under too much pressure
• Over half (55%) of nurses say there aren't enough staff to meet patient needs
• Nurses are looking after more patients on the wards

The RCN's manifesto says that NHS employers must be able to assure themselves that they have the right staffing levels to deliver safe patient care. With experience showing employers rushing to make staffing cuts to deal with financial pressures, it also says that to deliver a first class health system there must be sustained investment in staff.

Dr Peter Carter, head of the RCN, said:

"Today's report shows that nurses and healthcare assistants feel up against it; worn down and exhausted by the pressure to make efficiencies and frustrated by being prevented from delivering the quality of care they want to be providing. Staff are concerned that they are delivering the basics but are unable to provide the full range of quality care they would like.

"With an average of 1,800 nurses and health care assistants in each constituency, politicians of all parties must pay attention to our call for safer staffing levels, and sustained investment in the NHS."

Additional findings from the RCN's Labour Market Review warn of a shortfall in the number of nurses in coming years. Currently, around 200,000 nurses are expected to retire in the next ten years. There will also be fewer newly qualified nurses and as a result of restrictions on migration fewer nurses will be moving to the UK, according to the report.

The impact of growing retirements will also hit the community sector earlier and harder as nurses working in nursing homes, practice nursing and NHS community nursing tend to be older than other registered nurses.

Dr Peter Carter continued:

"The nursing workforce has grown in recent years but only just enough to keep up with rising demands on healthcare. 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.

"There is considerable pressure to focus on short-term funding constraints and cut staff numbers without taking patient needs into consideration. However, policy makers must look at workforce in conjunction with ability to deliver high quality and safe care. As we've seen too often, where there are not enough nurses, patient care suffers."

The RCN's manifesto outlines ways to protect the nation's health and improve care by putting quality at the centre of all healthcare provision. Priorities for all political parties include:

• Standing up for staff who speak out - all healthcare organisations should hold a register of staff concerns
• Safer staffing levels -there should be regular staffing reviews to guarantee the highest quality of care
• Give nurses the time to train - All healthcare assistants should be regulated and all healthcare workers should have protected training time
• Protect the nation's health - There should be a single mandatory code to regulate the drinks industry
• Improve care for those with long term conditions - Every patient with a long-term condition should have guaranteed access to specialist nursing care
• Sustain healthcare investment - Current levels of healthcare spending should be maintained

Ends

Notes for Editors

1. For further information, interviews or embargoed copies of the reports please contact the RCN Media Office on 0207 647 3633, press.office@rcn.org.uk or visit http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/media

2. 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.

3. '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. The survey will be on the RCN website on 19 October 2009

4. 'Difficult times, difficult choices', the UK nursing labour market review, will be on the RCN's website on 19 October 2009

5. The RCN's General Election manifesto 'Nursing Counts' will be on the RCN website on 19 October 2009