Responding to the publication of Lord Darzi’s Independent investigation of the National Health Service in England RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive Professor Nicola Ranger, said:
“Nursing staff will recognise many of Lord Darzi’s conclusions, not least how sustained austerity, cuts to public health and failure to invest in community services have impacted NHS performance and patient care.
“The modest increases in the size of the nursing workforce have been significantly outstripped by the demand piled on the NHS in recent years. Nursing staff are now too commonly caring for patients in corridors or left in armchairs, the ‘congestion’ mentioned in the report, which leaves them feeling short-staffed and unable to give the quality of care they would want.
“Moving care into the community and supporting people to live healthier lives is key to repairing our health service, taking that pressure and congestion off the hospital and even more importantly improving population health. But a fundamental shift to a community care model cannot simply be wished into existence, especially with thousands fewer specialist community nurses. Only dedicated investment to boost recruitment into nursing can ensure we have enough highly trained staff, where patients need them.
“The prime minister’s mission to repair a broken NHS is the right one and today’s report demonstrates why that task must start now. The nursing profession stands ready to work in partnership with government.”
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