Responding to the latest NHS performance data for England, RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive Pat Cullen, said:
“Patients deserve better. Nursing staff are trying to deliver the best they can, but safe patient care is being undermined by the workforce crisis across health and social care.
“Hospitals are full to bursting – with 93% of beds in general and acute care occupied. Combined with a record number of patients waiting more than 12 hours to be admitted, emergency care is close to buckling.
“One thing worsens the other – if there isn’t appropriate social care packages in place, then medically-fit patients can’t be discharged from hospitals. No free beds means A&E patients can’t be admitted. If patients on trollies are lining the emergency department corridors, then ambulances can’t offload their patients and respond to other 999 calls.
“Ministers have failed to address the workforce crisis. This is why we will be asking our members to vote to strike in our upcoming ballot. Our patients deserve better and the latest pay award was the final insult. Ministers must change course urgently.”
Ends
