Responding to the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) report on excess deaths in emergency departments, RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive Professor Nicola Ranger said:
“This is the tragic reality when people are left to wait in overcrowded and under-resourced A&Es. This catastrophe has been unfolding unchecked in our hospitals for far too long, with patients routinely being left waiting for hours, and in some cases days, in often unsuitable and degrading conditions.
“To bring this to an end, we need system-wide, long-term, sustainable solutions. This must include urgent investment in hospital beds and the nursing workforce, while also improving access to primary care, investing in community nursing and unlocking capacity in social care.
“Without the right funding, it will not be possible to reduce the need for admission to hospital in the first place and improve discharge to free up beds for those who need them most. Every day without action is a failure that has devastating consequences for patient care.”
Ends
Notes to editorsRoyal College of Emergency Medicine - The State of Emergency Medicine in England
