Royal College of Nursing responds to new figures on NHS staffing levels,UK
Author: Royal College of Nursing
March 27, 2009
Article taken from: www.medicalnewstoday.com
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) today commented on statistics from the NHS Information Centre, showing an all-time high in NHS staffing but a further decline in the numbers of Practice nurses.
Dr. Peter Carter, RCN Chief Executive & General Secretary said:
"We welcome the fact that there are more staff working in the NHS, but we know that 200,000 nurses are due to retire in the next decade. The government has been urging the health service to move care closer to home, yet it is community nurses that we're going to be losing to retirement over the next few years. All of this points to an NHS staff shortage timebomb.
"Our own research shows that one in three community nurses are over 50 and one in five practice nurses are over 55. Government must invest in nursing if it's going to be a more attractive career option because in the coming years we're going to need more rather than less practice, district and community nurses."
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