The growing strain on nurses working in the NHS was revealed by the Royal College of Nursing as new figures showed that one in 20 nurses expects to be made redundant during the next 12 months.
A total of 5% of members surveyed said they expect to lose their jobs over the next year, equating to around 15,000 nurses and healthcare assistants in the NHS, while a further 7% expect to experience downbanding and 6% expect to have their hours reduced, according to the RCN’s employment survey, which is carried out every two years. The survey also uncovers the increasing workload that nurses and healthcare assistants are facing. More than half of nurses in the NHS (54%) report decreased staffing levels for registered nurses in the last 12 months. Given the strong evidence between safe staffing levels and patient care, the RCN is now calling for guaranteed safe staffing levels and will be tabling an amendment on the issue as the Health and Social Care Bill progresses through the House of Lords. Furthermore, well over half of nurses (57%) work in excess of contracted hours either every shift or several times a week. A total of 16% of nurses work in excess of contracted hours every shift (up from 10% in 2009) and 41% do this several times a week – up from 31% in 2009. Dr Peter Carter, chief executive and general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, said: “Nurses are at the heart of all that is good about the NHS and this is yet more evidence that the front line is not being protected. We know the Government wants to protect services but nurses are wilting under the strain of longer working hours, taking on the burden on unfilled vacancies and reduced staffing levels. All these short term measures are likely to leave patients with longer waiting times, poor care and a worse NHS. It is absolutely critical that Trusts make sure they have the right numbers and balance of staff to deal with this.”
