Safe staffing a ‘ vital ’ campaign for NHS ’ s frontline staff

The lack of safe staffing on wards and in ambulances is putting patients and staff at risk, UNISON’s health conference heard today.
Once again in Bournemouth delegates were told about an aspect of members’ working lives that was causing stress and anxiety, which in turn was leading to people leaving their jobs and even more understaffing.
James Anthony (pictured) of the health service group executive said that nurses in hospitals and community settings must be prepared to stand together “and where necessary take industrial action to defend patient care and safe staffing.”
Speaking on the motion “safe staffing and legislation”, Mr Anthony said that the union’s nursing and midwifery occupational group had led the “vital” campaign on safe staffing.
“We know from the evidence that when nursing numbers are low, care is poor, and patient harm occurs. And we know that our members who work in nursing are the ones bearing the strain, working over the end of their shifts and not getting their breaks.”
He said the UK already lagged behind the US, Australia and New Zealand in terms of the number of nurses to patient population.
“And there are already 40,000 nurse vacancies, one in eight nursing posts being left vacant. The projections for the future are stark. On current trends we would be short of 108,000 nurses by 2028.
“So yes, safe staffing clauses in legislation are important. But it’s us, now, nurses at the coalface, who know what is and isn’t...

Source: UNISON Health care news - April 9, 2019 Category: UK Health Authors: Demetrios Matheou Tags: Article News 2019 Health Conference health care NHS staff safe staffing Source Type: news