Survey of more than 5,000 nurses who are UNISON members reveals major concerns about staffing levels
A survey conducted by trade union UNISON of 5,100 nursing staff has revealed that safe staff levels have seen no improvement over the last year, despite government claims of increased numbers of nurses, raising concerns over staff welfare and patient safety.
The Red Alert - Unsafe Staffing Levels Rising report showed that almost half (45 per cent) reported that there were inadequate numbers of staff to deliver safe and dignified care to patients. Sixty-five per cent of those surveyed reported that care was left undone due to understaffing and 49 per cent that staffing levels had worsened since May 2010 when the Conservative and Liberal Democrat Coalition began.
Research published in The Lancet into nurse staffing and hospital mortality in nine European countries showed that one registered nurse to eight patients, excluding the nurse in charge, is the level at which harm starts to occur to patients. However, the UNISON survey showed that 42 per cent of nurses admitted to caring for eight or more patients, a figure that increased to 55 per cent for those working night shifts.
UNISON is calling for guidance to be updated so that caring for eight patients or more is classed as a ‘red flag’ event, meaning that extra nurses should be made available.
Michael Burrell, a senior clinical negligence solicitor based at Thompsons Solicitors’ Birmingham office, commented: “The NHS is seeing unpreceded demand on its services due to an ageing population and a huge strain on its services due to the last government’s funding cuts.
“Staff are bearing the brunt of this pressure which is frankly unfair. If staff are overstretched, this is when mistakes can happen, something that we have unfortunately seen the consequences of through our work with victims of clinical negligence.
“It is not fair that hardworking healthcare professionals are forced to face unnecessary pressures as a result of government failures to properly manage and fund the NHS. We hope that the incoming government will do more to ensure staff welfare which will, in turn, mean patients receive better, safer care.”
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