Local MP, Phil Wilson, has urged the government to immediately address nursing shortages in England. Writing to Matt Hancock the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Mr Wilson acknowledges the ‘brilliant job’ nurses do in ‘difficult circumstances’ but stressed that hospitals need to be staffed to safe levels and the government should enshrine this in legislation. This is also an issue being raised by the Royal College of Nursing, and Mr Wilson has joined them in asking the Government to introduce
– Legislation to ensure accountability for safe nurse staffing at all levels of health and care services in England, I understand the equivalent law has been introduced in Scotland and Wales.
– Ensure that a statutory body has responsibility for future nurse force planning.
– Invest at least £1 billion in nurse higher education in order to reverse the reduction in the number of students both applying to and taking up places in Nursing degree courses.
Mr Wilson has said “Whilst nurses do a fantastic job, the 40,000 vacant nurse posts in the NHS in England means that wards can often be understaffed and nurses find themselves under increasing pressure and strain whilst trying to do the best for the patients in their care. I hope the government do what is right for both patients and nurses, by introducing legislation which ensures our hospitals are safely staffed.”
