Responding to The King’s Fund study, 'Tight budgets and tough choices: the reality of an NHS living within its financial means', RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive Professor Nicola Ranger said:

“It’s an appalling state of affairs when trust leaders talk about cutting frontline roles and closing beds to make savings. Nursing staff already face an almost impossible job as they try to keep patients safe amidst a workforce crisis and rising demand. The prospect of this situation worsening will fill every nursing professional with dread.

“This problem starts with government and ministers must stop putting arbitrary financial targets ahead of patient safety. That’s what happened at Mid Staffs and I fear they could be set to repeat the mistakes of the past.

“This report shows there is no hope of delivering the government’s reforms whilst the NHS is simultaneously being asked to cut staff and services. Multiple trust leaders say they are crying out for investment in roles like district nurses, health visitors and school nurses, but financially their arms are tied behind their backs.

“With the spending review just weeks away ministers need to change course. They must recognise the need to invest in health and care services at the level to meet people’s needs. That has to include new and sustained investment in the nursing workforce to help transform care, ease pressures and reduce costs in the longer term.”

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