Responding to the latest NHS England performance data, RCN Director for England, Patricia Marquis, said:
“These record waiting lists and delays for treatment in A&E are exactly why nursing has taken the historic decision to strike.
“These pressures cannot continue. Staff are doing everything they can to treat patients, but there are simply not enough nurses.
“The waiting lists will only come down when there is proper investment in the workforce, which will stop thousands leaving each year and bring in new nursing staff. One of the simplest ways to do that is to pay fairly.
“Nurses, patients and the public can see it. Ministers must act.”
Ends
Notes to editors
NHS England data published today shows that 43,792 people waited longer than 12 hours in A&E in October, up 34% from 32,776 in September and the highest number in records going back to August 2010.
The number waiting at least four hours from the decision to admit to admission also reached a new peak of 150,922 in October, up from 131,861 the previous month.
A total of 7.1 million people were waiting to start treatment at the end of September, NHS England said.
This is up from 7.0 million in August and is the highest number since records began in August 2007.
