Safe Staffing

How can nurses show compassion in 7.5 minutes an hour?

What can you do in seven and a half minutes? Change a dressing? Maybe, if it's straightforward. Check and administer an injection or make a bed? Probably.

Sit down and talk to a patient about their feelings on just having learned their condition is terminal? Unlikely. But seven and a half minutes per patient per hour is the amount of time available when the staffing ratio on a ward is one registered nurse (RN) to eight patients. How can nurses possibly provide adequate care, let alone truly compassionate care, in that amount of time?'

Research commissioned by our Alliance found that a ratio of one RN to eight patients (not counting the nurse in charge) is the point at which patients begin to be harmed.

We are very concerned. We don't want to shroud-wave but it's time for a reality check. We know almost half of units in England are running at a ratio of 1:8 or worse.

The heat generated by the Francis report has given us a window of opportunity. The holders of the purse-strings are amenable to messages about making staffing safer. But we want our message to be more than "safe staffing is about not killing people". We want to ensure our health service is fit for purpose and is a place where patients feel safe. We also want nursing to be a top career choice for our school children.

But we need to inject a sense of urgency. The "Francis effect" window will not stay open forever. So we are keen to press home the 'never more than 8' message.

Please take a moment to sign up in support of our campaign or you can download our Never More Than 8 leaflet here.

Also you can read our response to the NICE staffing guideline consultation.

About the author

Susan OsborneSusan Osborne
Chair, Safe Staffing Alliance

@SusanSSA