Responding to the new record number of patients sitting on an NHS waiting list, Royal College of Nursing Chief Nurse, Professor Nicola Ranger, said:
“The government has lost control of NHS waiting times and the record numbers waiting increases each month on their watch. Despite the numbers now almost trebling since May 2010 and the prime minister's promises to cut waits, people are being told today that they’re going to be waiting longer as the NHS runs out of money. These lists have been growing for years and the shortage of nurses is one of the fundamental causes.
“This is the result of ignoring and devaluing our safety critical profession over 13 years and now it's patients paying the highest price. To grip this crisis, the prime minister must deliver what nurses have been demanding for more than a decade: safe staffing, fair pay and removing nursing student debt. These are critical to ensuring there are enough nursing staff to give patients the timely treatment they need and deserve."
