Responding to the latest NHS performance data for England, RCN England director Patricia Marquis, said:
“These record waiting lists speak volumes about the state of our health and care services, in part a consequence of not having enough nursing staff.
“Patients deserve better. Even with nursing staff working long hours and doing all they can, safe patient care is being undermined by the workforce crisis.
“Ministers have failed to address the situation, and it cannot be clearer now that waiting lists will not fall until there are more staff.
“This is why we are asking our members to vote to strike in our ballot. The need to pay a demoralised and unvalued nursing profession fairly could not be more pressing.”
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