RCN – risky and irresponsible staffing levels on older people’s wards

Published: 28 November 2011

For immediate release:  28 November 2011
RCN – risky and irresponsible staffing levels on older people’s wards

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) today (28 November) branded staffing levels on some older people’s wards as risky and irresponsible as it responded to the publication of the Dr Foster Hospital Guide 2011.
RCN Chief Executive & General Secretary, Dr Peter Carter, said:
“The Dr Foster report has found wide variations in staffing levels across the country and quite rightly expresses concern about the risk to patient safety. Such wide variation cannot be accounted for purely by clinical need, so Trusts now need to look at their staffing levels as a matter of urgency.  Due to the complex needs of many older people, having staff with the right mixture of skills and experience on the ward is vital. Equally, it is both risky and irresponsible to expect two nurses and four healthcare assistants to safely look after 59 elderly patients as the report found at one hospital. We need to see proper planning systems, based on sound clinical evidence, in order to ensure safe nurse staffing levels for patients.

“We know that quality of care and patient safety is improved when you have enough nurses with the right skills in place on wards. The RCN has been making this point for some time, and welcomes today’s Dr Foster report which once again highlights the issue. Just last week our Frontline First report revealed that over 56,000 NHS posts have been or will be cut across the UK as the NHS is tasked with making “efficiency savings” of £20bn in England alone by 2014.

“We are currently working with Peers on amendments to the Health and Social Care Bill that would create mandatory safe staffing levels. It is expected that these amendments will be debated in the House of Lords later this week and if passed would undoubtedly make huge strides in improving patient safety.
“We have always accepted that savings need to be made in the NHS, but the RCN is clear cutting frontline staff and services that vulnerable patients rely on is just not the way to do it.

Ends

Notes for Editors

1. For further information, interviews or illustrations please contact the RCN Media Office on 02076473633, 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 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