Commenting on the international RN4CAST study, which looks at the nursing workforce and patient outcomes and recently published in the British Medical Journal, Dr Peter Carter chief executive and general secretary, at the Royal College of Nursing, said that the findings were ‘hugely significant’ and provided more compelling evidence that nursing numbers and the working environment have a direct relation to quality of care and patient experience.
He said: “It is shocking that the burnout experienced by nurses in England is the second worst in Europe, and this should be a major cause of concern for employers. Nursing is not an easy job that just anyone can do; it requires a high level of skill and dedication and in this country we are very privileged to have such a committed workforce. “This study echoes much of the RCN’s own research which demonstrates that, due to increasing cuts, staff are over stretched and are not given the resources to provide their patients with the level of care they would wish. The 2011 NHS staff survey also reported similar findings, with less than a third of respondents saying there are enough staff in their organisation for them to do their job properly. Sadly none of this is surprising when we learn that, since 2010, the NHS has lost nearly 20,000 posts – almost 3,500 of them qualified nurses. “The NHS cannot afford to ignore this growing body of evidence if it wants to protect patient care.”
