10 Unsustainable Pressures on the Health and Care System in England

Members of the RCN working across health and social care in England dispute statements that the current situation in health and care is sustainable.

Action needs to be taken to retain as many nursing staff as possible in light of serious staffing vacancies, as well as high levels of exhaustion and burnout. On top of this, the system is currently dealing with the immediate challenge of rising COVID-19 cases, intensified pressures as winter approaches and clearing the growing backlog of undelivered care to people in need.

The RCN has identified ten areas that currently demonstrate unsustainable, untenable conditions within the health and care system across England. All of these are reliant on nursing.

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