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Nurse shortage could force collapse of NHS and social care sector

As government’s NHS workforce plan continues to stall, nurses’ leader issues grave warning over precarious state of services in the NHS and care home sector
RCN general secretary looking serious – she warns of collapse in health and care services

As government’s NHS workforce plan continues to stall, nurses’ leader issues grave warning over precarious state of services in the NHS and care home sector

RCN general secretary looking serious – she warns of collapse in health and care services
Picture: John Houlihan

Acute nurse shortages are putting patients at risk and could force the collapse of health and care services, RCN leader Pat Cullen warned.

The government’s highly anticipated NHS workforce plan, initially due to be published last year, has been delayed again.

Ms Cullen condemned the postponement as nursing and other NHS staff shortages leave the workforce struggling to keep up with increasing patient demand.

‘The immense pressure could risk the collapse of health and care services,’ she said. ‘Ministers are playing a dangerous game by delaying the long-awaited NHS workforce plan – we simply cannot wait any longer.’

Extent of the nursing shortage

Nursing vacancies have remained stubbornly high since 2017 and some specialist nurse numbers have plummeted, according to the college. Latest NHS Digital vacancies data show there continues to be more than 40,000 unfilled nursing posts in England’s NHS alone.

The RCN’s analysis of NHS Digital and NHS England data from December 2007 to September 2009 showed the number of community and district nurses had fallen by 47%. In the same period, learning disability nurse numbers fell by 45%.

The social care nursing workforce has shrunk by 40% at a time of critical pressure on its services, the college said.

Ms Cullen said the figures painted a disturbing picture for patients in hospitals, nursing homes and the community.

‘This catalogue of issues must be addressed urgently, or many people will continue to go without the care they need,’ Ms Cullen said.

Systemic plan to address staffing shortages

The government has been promising a wide-ranging NHS workforce strategy since before the pandemic. It was initially due to be published in spring last year but has been repeatedly delayed, with no announcement of a publication date yet.

The 15-year plan is expected to outline the number of nurses, doctors and other professionals needed to tackle huge shortages. Reports suggest the Treasury has resisted calls to fully fund the plan, resulting in the delays.

The RCN said the plan must tackle the nursing workforce crisis head on’. Health leaders have warned the government that continued delays to the plan risk increasing waiting lists for treatment.

Prime minister Rishi Sunak is expected to announce £1 billion in funding to educate thousands of extra nurses, midwives and doctors over the next five years under the workforce plan, according to The Times.


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