RCN comment on Unison survey into quality of care

Published: 31 October 2012

THE RCN today (31 October) responded to a Unison survey of nurses which showed that one in three nurses believed that quality of patient care had declined over the past year.

Dr Peter Carter, Chief Executive and General Secretary of the RCN said: “Nurses are on the frontline of health care and the government needs to start listening to their warnings about the damaging effect that these cuts are having.

“The pressure to save £20bn in the NHS is leading to a reduction in nursing posts and this is clearly having a detrimental effect on patient care.

“Nurses work hard to deliver the best possible care to their patients but with 60 per cent raising concerns about falling staffing levels and three quarters saying they face unreasonable workloads it is clear that these cuts are having a massively detrimental impact on the NHS.”