Reducing pressure on health care services will not be achievable unless there is substantial investment in the nursing profession, an element notably missing from the Chancellor of the Exchequer's spring statement.
There's also no sign of the government-funded NHS pay award in England yet, which has a 1 April deadline and is now expected to be late.
The spring statement was a chance for the nursing profession to see government action on nursing pay.
Professor Nicola Ranger, RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive, said: "Today was another missed opportunity for the chancellor to invest in the nursing profession. With no announcement on pay, ministers are on course to miss the 1 April deadline, meaning nursing staff are once again left in the dark and set to receive another late pay award.
"The government’s aims to reduce demand on services, keep people healthy and boost growth will only be achievable with a well-resourced, fairly paid nursing workforce."
Alongside failing to invest in the nursing profession, the chancellor also confirmed cuts to welfare benefits. We warned these could harm vulnerable people, such as those with disabilities and long-term health conditions.
Nicola said: "As clinical professionals, nursing staff are clear that the government’s health mission and plans to shift from treatment to prevention will be undermined by these cuts. Inequality and deprivation are directly linked to poor health.
"Measures that push vulnerable people into poverty, particularly those with disabilities and long-term conditions, will not only worsen both physical and mental health outcomes but pile more pressure on NHS services, costing more in the long run."
The pressure on services and lack of investment from government comes as nursing student numbers continue to fall and the retention crisis continues.
The number of people applying to study nursing is at a record low, according to UCAS. There’s been a 34% fall in the number of people applying to study nursing in the UK, meanwhile there was a 67% increase in the number leaving the NMC register after just five years.
Turning around the staffing crisis is critical for patient safety. We outlined this in a series of recommendations to the government ahead of NHS workforce and 10-year plans and the upcoming Comprehensive Spending Review.
