A recent survey by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) reveals a alarming shortage of registered nurses in the NHS, resulting in untreated patients and even solitary deaths in the UK.
Jerrymusa.com reports that despite government restrictions on international student migration, the survey found that only a third of shifts have sufficient nursing staff.
Over 11,000 nursing staff reported frequent understaffing, leading to dangerous patient-to-nurse ratios, with some caring for over 50 patients simultaneously.
Impact on Health Sector
The RCN warns that this puts patients at risk and demoralizes nursing staff. Nicola Ranger, RCN’s acting general secretary, urges “urgent investment in the nursing workforce” and “safety-critical nurse-patient ratios enshrined in law” to improve care and prevent harm. “We desperately need to act now to address this crisis,” she said.
The survey’s findings are echoed by nurses on the frontlines, who report rushed visits, unallocated care, and heartbreaking decisions on who receives attention. “We are always rushing,” said one nurse.
“We leave over 50 patients requiring care unseen daily due to poor staffing levels,” said another. The RCN demands action to address the staffing crisis and ensure patient safety.