Nurse shortages linked to patient safety incidents
A Royal College of Nursing report finds that shortages of registered nurses in England are contributing to patient safety harms, with some hospital trusts logging hundreds of nursing-related "red flag" incidents each month. The report cites delays to pain relief and essential medication, missed care tasks, and falls that resulted in broken bones and brain bleeds. It estimates about 23,000 vacancies that understate the shortfall because frozen or unfunded posts are excluded, and notes nurse numbers rose 33% since 2009 versus 60% for doctors, implying tens of thousands more nurses are needed. The government says 14,000 more nurses are employed and a 10-Year Workforce Plan is planned.
England needs tens of thousands more registered nurses
Context
The Royal College of Nursing reviewed hospital board papers about staff shortages. The report found many safety incidents and a large nurse shortfall. The government has said it has hired 14,000 more nurses and will roll out workforce…
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