The Royal College of Nursing has issued a warning that it believes the NHS in England is ‘sleepwalking into a crisis’ and has called on the Government to take immediate action to stop Trusts cutting vital posts and services.
The RCN’s Frontline First campaign has identified more than 61,000 posts across the NHS in England that are now at risk or have been axed. NHS Information Centre figures also reveal that the NHS workforce has fallen by almost 21,000 since the Coalition Government came to power. This includes a loss of more than 6,000 qualified nursing posts. Dr Peter Carter, RCN chief executive & general secretary, said: “Nursing is not being protected in the same way as some other clinical professions, with posts and training places often cut for purely financial reasons. We believe all clinical professions should be afforded equal protection. Currently, the nursing supply line is being choked and given the importance of nursing to provide high quality care, this has worrying implications for patients. Indeed, if this current trend continues, we fear the worst for patient care in this country.”
