Responding the lastest NHS England Vacancy Statistics, RCN Director for England, Patricia Marquis, said:
“As we head towards another challenging winter there are still over 40,000 nursing vacancies in the NHS in England. It is leaving our health and care system underprepared for the months ahead. Each nurse has to care for too many patients, sometimes as many as 15 and 20 each – this ratio of nurse to patients is unsafe for all concerned.
“With the numbers of student nurses falling again this September, today’s staff find it hard to see how the current pressure will abate.
“As the general election gets closer, nursing staff need to hear from all political parties how they will fulfil the NHS workforce plan – with details and funding commitments to bring these vacancies down.”
Ends
Notes to Editors
The latest NHS England Vacancy statistics show that the number of vacant nursing posts in the NHS in England now stand at 43,339 for 2023/23 Q1. This is an increase of 3,243 from the previous statistics for 2022/23 Q4 (40,096).
