Hospitals ‘largely failing to meet nurse staffing targets’

A new report has highlighted the severe difficulties NHS hospitals are having in hiring the right number of nurses at present.

Analysis by the Health Service Journal, covering data from 2014-15 to 2016-17, has indicated that 96 percent of acute hospitals reporting figures failed to meet their own planned level for registered nurses working during the day in October 2016.

Around 85 percent of hospitals also missed their target for nurses working at night in the same month. These represent the worst figures recorded since the Health Service Journal began analysing data in 2014.

The Royal College of Nursing responded to the data by saying this understaffing problem is putting patient safety at risk and often resulting in underqualified healthcare assistants having to fill the breach, which is not an acceptable solution.

Janet Davies, chief executive and general secretary of the RCN, said: "Safe staffing levels aren't an optional extra – having the right number of nurses is essential to ensure that patients can recover properly."

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