Legal News
NHS Staffing Levels under Threat, Says RCN (23 November 2011)
Date: 23/11/2011
Nursing leaders have warned of a “crisis” within the NHS, following the publication of Royal College of Nursing (RCN) data that revealed that over 56,000 jobs either have been axed, or are at risk of being axed, across the UK. The data has been obtained from NHS trusts and includes the analysis of papers from board meetings, forward planning documentation, and annual and strategic reports. In addition to the lost jobs, the RCN has warned that posts may be downgraded to save money. This means that staff may be expected to carry out the same role for less money or that less skilled employees will be brought in. The RCN claims that the NHS could be heading towards a “crisis”, stating that services and levels of staffing were being seriously affected. The RCN warned that the cuts could result in patient care suffering "potentially disastrous consequences”.
In England alone, 48,029 NHS posts are estimated to face the axe or have already been lost, an increase of 30,873 in comparison to seven months ago. The Government has pledged that it will safeguard frontline services, even though the NHS has been ordered to save £20 billion. Dr. Peter Carter, the chief executive of the RCN, claimed that there was currently a lack of evidence to support the suggestions that the £20 billion worth of savings would be reinvested into patient care, as had been previously promised.
Duncan Lewis’ employment law solicitors can provide clients with the legal advice they require relating to the downgrading of their workplace positions.