Responding to NHS data showing nurse vacancies have jumped to a record level, RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive, Pat Cullen, said:
"Two weeks before we open our strike ballot, these stark figures reveal what is happening in England's NHS - record numbers of unfilled nurse jobs and rising fast too. Tens of thousands of experienced nurses left last year at the very moment we cannot afford to lose a single professional, and patients pay a heavy price.
"Nursing staff are burnt out and simply not valued by their employers and government. Ministers choosing to hold their pay well below inflation in a cost of living crisis is making more reconsider their future. Rather than leave a fantastic profession, I am telling members that the time has come to vote for strike action this year - it is the best way to now get politicians to listen and show what we mean when we say 'enough is enough'.
"The new prime minister must act fast to give nursing staff a fair pay award as part of addressing the all-engulfing NHS crisis."
Ends
Notes to Editors
NHS Digital data released today covers the period April-June 2022 and shows:
- There were 46,828 registered nurse vacancies in the NHS between April and June 2022.
- Vacancies have risen by 21% since April-June 2021 when the vacancy total was 38,814.
