UK & World News
- 13 November 2012, 8:08
NHS 'Loses 6,000 Nurses' In Two Years
The NHS has lost more than 6,000 qualified nurses since the coalition Government came to power, according to new figures.
The latest workforce statistics released by the NHS Information Centre showed that between May 2010 and July this year, hospitals and community health services lost 6,147 nurses.
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) said its own figures show that another 32,700 jobs are "at risk" - despite rising demands on the NHS from an ageing population.
It warned the health service was "sleepwalking into a crisis".
Dr Peter Carter, the RCN's general secretary, said: "On a daily basis, nurses are telling us that they do not have enough staff to deliver good quality care.
"Demand for services is continuing to rise. However, staffing levels are being slashed."
The RCN has analysed the figures from the NHS Information Centre as part of its Frontline First staffing campaign.
However, the union admitted problems with the statistics. Nurses working for services that are taken over by private providers will show up as an NHS job loss, even though they are still treating NHS patients.
The official figures also show the NHS has employed 7,286 more doctors since May 2010, although Dr Carter warned that nurses are just as important to the NHS.
"We believe all clinical professions should be afforded equal protection," he said.
"Currently the nursing supply is being choked and given the importance of nursing to provide high quality care, this has worrying implications for patients."
Health minister Dr Dan Poulter said: "NHS performance is strong. Waiting times and infection rates are at record low levels. To say that the NHS is in crisis is scaremongering and doesn't reflect reality."
He added that patients are spending less time in hospital and that the NHS workforce "is changing to reflect this".
what do you think?
Ben Ralph
Lots of qualified staff going to private companies who pay more, offer flexible working hours and will soon be taking over the NHS anyway. Pointless and misleading stats from the RCN.
dave
The only people to argue that the RCN is making ointless and misleading statements are spokespersons for the government, and right-wing tabloids. The truth will out.
shaun spencer
This comment has been removed for violations of our Terms and Conditions.
Robinson56Chris
This tells you all you need to know about what the capitalists are doing to our NHS.
Windows Live User
NHS 'Loses 6,000 Nurses' In Two Years I can see them! They are hiding behind that cupboard! Seriously, this is the true mark of our government.Unless you can pay for help you aint going to get it. What an almighty mess they have made
dave
Dear Sir, Am I alone in thinking that before the election in 2010 the Conservatives claimed that the NHS was 'safe in our hands'? Was this really nothing more than a misleading election gimmick? Was someone being 'economical with the truth'? Does the Healt Minister Daniel Poulter in dismissing the RCN claims know more about front-line health services than health workers actually on the front line? Can the said minister afford to avoid the NHS by taxpayers paying for private health care for him? What does the spokeswoman for the Dept. of Health (NB: not actually someone who knows what is really happening) mean by the platitude - "Health Education England (a new training organisation created to paper over the cracks in recruitment) will give training an unprecedented focus." I think that the issue is about recruitment and retention. Did she deliberataley miss the point with the intention to mislead the public?
dave
Patients are "spending less time in hospital" because hospitals get more money by making sure that patients die quicker. Is this what the Health Minister means when he claims that "the NHS workforce is changing to reflect this"?
dave
The only people to argue that the RCN is making Pointless and misleading statements are spokespersons for the government, and right-wing tabloids. The truth will out.
johnmstg42ml
This government is claiming success on the legacy of the last governments improvements to the NHS. By the time of the next election this Goverment will pay the price of their covert privatisation policy and ruthless cuts. Once again it will be upto Labout to undo all the damage the Tories are doing to health, education and welfare.
leslie lee
were the 6000 jobs those of uneccessary managers then the N.H.S would go into profit methinks !!
barry
6:53am on 13/11/2012
Come on little rich Boy!!!!