The Royal College of Nursing has published results from its 2009 Employment Survey, which highlights how pressures on workload and staffing levels can impact on patient care. The survey shows fewer nurses responding positively to views on workload than in 2007, particularly those working in the NHS.
Over half of the respondents (55%) say that there are not enough staff to meet patient needs and that nurses are looking after more patients on the wards. RCN chief executive Dr Peter Carter said that the survey shows that healthcare staff are exhausted by the pressure to make efficiencies and frustrated by being prevented from delivering the quality of care they want to provide.
"Staff are concerned that they are delivering the basics but are unable to provide the full range of quality care they would like," he commented. Findings from the RCN's Labour Market Review, published at the same time, also warn of a shortfall in the number of nurses in coming years. Approximately 200,000 nurses are expected to retire in the next ten years, there will be fewer newly qualified nurses and as a result of restrictions on migration fewer nurses will be moving to the UK, the report shows.
Dr Carter added: “The nursing workforce has grown in recent years but only just enough to keep up with rising demands on healthcare. We expect the next few years will be the most challenging for staff levels in decades, especially with the drive to provide more services in the community."
