Responding to the health and care white paper, RCN Chief Executive and General Secretary, Dame Donna Kinnair, said:
"We are inching closer to getting ministers to take responsibility for ensuring safe and effective care with enough nursing staff. But these proposals are only worthwhile if the UK Government makes this issue a priority and matches that with investment.
“For years, nursing staff have been kept waiting with the promise of a workforce strategy from ministers and the NHS. The absence of one left health and care services tens of thousands of nurses short when facing a pandemic. This workforce strategy must be produced without delay, with legal teeth, to demonstrate a clear commitment to investing in the people who make patient care safe.
“New NHS structures will need to include senior nurses bringing their expertise and leadership and our members will want that reassurance when the detail is published.
“Politicians have to be accountable for the NHS but nobody wants that to mean political interference.”
Ends
