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Calls for more nurses to prevent NHS from suffering crisis

Monday 21st December 2015
New figures reveal the extent of the NHSs nursing shortage. Image: laflor
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    New figures show the extent of the nursing shortage that is currently affecting the NHS, leading to calls for more medical staff to be recruited in the coming weeks to prevent the health service from experiencing a crisis as winter gets underway.

    Shortage statistics

    The NHS has released new data that shows 92 per cent of England's 225 acute hospital trusts did not meet staffing targets this summer, leaving wards understaffed and nurses under increasing amounts of pressure.

    Analysis of the statistics by the Health Service Journal found that staff shortages have worsened since the start of 2015. In January, 85 per cent of UK hospitals failed to meet their targets for staffing numbers during the daytime, leaving patients at increased risk of their health worsening as adequate levels of care cannot be guaranteed in these working conditions.

    In addition, 81 per cent of hospitals did not have enough nurses on their wards at night, while 79 per cent failed to meet their targets for both day and night time staffing levels.

    Commenting on the figures, a Department of Health spokesman told the BBC: "Staffing is a priority - we've put more than 7,600 additional nurses on our wards since May 2010 and there are 50,000 nurses currently in training."

    Winter pressure

    But with winter getting underway, the time of year when the NHS is traditionally under more pressure than ever, will the health service be able to cope?

    Figures published by the Office for National Statistics last month reveal that the number of excess seasonal deaths recorded in England and Wales over the 2014-15 winter period was the highest since 1990-2000. Altogether, 27 per cent more (43,900 in total) people dying during the winter due to illnesses such as flu and pneumonia in comparison to the spring, summer and autumn.

    This data indicates that more nurses than ever will be needed at hospitals this winter to prevent these statistics from worsening for another year and to ensure patients can receive the best possible levels of care.

    Opportunities for agency nurses

    An additional survey carried out by Nursing Times last week revealed that eight in ten nurses felt that they were under extra stress at work now in comparison to 12 months ago, while one-third said the wards they worked on were always short-staffed.

    While this raises concerns about how the NHS will cope over Christmas and throughout the rest of the winter, it does signal good news for nurses looking for work via agencies, as hospitals will be looking to add to their staffing ranks over the coming weeks and months.

    Speaking to the BBC, chief executive of the Royal College of Nursing Janet Davies explained that hospitals were still trying to catch up on their staffing levels after making dramatic cuts in a bid to save money in recent years. She recognised that action needs to be taken to recruit additional nurses, alongside ensuring current members of staff are not too overworked to prevent a vicious circle of staff shortages and workload struggles.

    Written by James Puckle

    Mediplacements is a genuine specialist medical recruitment company. Contact us to see the latest nursing jobs.ADNFCR-1780-ID-801808583-ADNFCR

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