RCN – cuts to nursing numbers damaging patient care

Published: 24 July 2012

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) today responded to the NHS Information Centre workforce statistics, revealing that the number of qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff has fallen by 4,661 from April 2010 to April 2012. RCN Executive Director of Nursing and Service Delivery, Janet Davies, said:

“Today, the Government has laid bare the effects of its own austerity drive in the NHS. Despite our repeated warnings, the pressure to save £20 billion in the NHS in England is resulting in cuts to jobs, hitting the frontline hard. You can’t lose more than 4500 nurses, midwives and health visitors without seriously damaging patient care. We know through our Frontline First campaign that the NHS is creaking under the strain of rising demand, fewer staff and short-sighted cuts to patient care.

“Despite Government rhetoric, these cuts are real and have been ongoing for some time. The RCN will continue to identify where posts are under threat, and will work both nationally and locally to oppose short sighted cuts that damage patient care.”

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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.