RCN responds to new figures on NHS staffing levels

Published: 25 March 2009

For immediate use: Wednesday 25th March 2009

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) today commented on statistics from the NHS Information Centre, showing an all-time high in NHS staffing but a further decline in the numbers of Practice nurses.

Dr. Peter Carter, RCN Chief Executive & General Secretary said:

"We welcome the fact that there are more staff working in the NHS, but we know that 200,000 nurses are due to retire in the next decade. The government has been urging the health service to move care closer to home, yet it is community nurses that we're going to be losing to retirement over the next few years. All of this points to an NHS staff shortage timebomb.

"Our own research shows that one in three community nurses are over 50 and one in five practice nurses are over 55. Government must invest in nursing if it's going to be a more attractive career option because in the coming years we're going to need more rather than less practice, district and community nurses."

-ends-

Notes to Editors

The RCN Labour Market Review of 2008 can be found here - http://www.rcn.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0015/201282/003302.pdf

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

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, healthcare assistants 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.