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| Wards dangerously understaffed, say nurses in survey | Wards dangerously understaffed, say nurses in survey |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| More than half of nurses believe their NHS ward or unit is dangerously understaffed, according to a survey. | More than half of nurses believe their NHS ward or unit is dangerously understaffed, according to a survey. |
| The Nursing Times conducted an online poll of nearly 600 of its readers on issues such as staffing, patient safety and NHS culture. | The Nursing Times conducted an online poll of nearly 600 of its readers on issues such as staffing, patient safety and NHS culture. |
| The survey also found three-quarters had witnessed what they considered "poor" care over the past 12 months. | The survey also found three-quarters had witnessed what they considered "poor" care over the past 12 months. |
| The government said it had increased staffing and hundreds of new nurses were still being taken on by the NHS. | The government said it had increased staffing and hundreds of new nurses were still being taken on by the NHS. |
| 'Increasingly difficult' | 'Increasingly difficult' |
| The survey comes ahead of a public inquiry report into care failings at Mid Staffordshire Foundation Trust. | The survey comes ahead of a public inquiry report into care failings at Mid Staffordshire Foundation Trust. |
| The study found that 57% of those asked described their ward or unit as sometimes or always "dangerously understaffed". | The study found that 57% of those asked described their ward or unit as sometimes or always "dangerously understaffed". |
| Of those who had witnessed poor care, nearly 30% said they had seen it happen regularly. | Of those who had witnessed poor care, nearly 30% said they had seen it happen regularly. |
| Some 85% of those who worked on general wards said the patient to nurse ratio was eight or more to one, and 44% said the ratio was 10 or more to one. | Some 85% of those who worked on general wards said the patient to nurse ratio was eight or more to one, and 44% said the ratio was 10 or more to one. |
| The Royal College of Nursing considers a ratio of eight or more to one to be associated with patient care on a ward regularly being compromised by short staffing. | The Royal College of Nursing considers a ratio of eight or more to one to be associated with patient care on a ward regularly being compromised by short staffing. |
| One respondent told the Nursing Times: "Safety is always at the forefront of my mind but it is becoming increasingly difficult to ensure that all patients are kept safe whilst in my care due to numerous constraints and expectations of the service." | One respondent told the Nursing Times: "Safety is always at the forefront of my mind but it is becoming increasingly difficult to ensure that all patients are kept safe whilst in my care due to numerous constraints and expectations of the service." |
| Care standards | Care standards |
| Prime Minister David Cameron has acknowledged that the government still has a long way to go to raise standards across the NHS. | Prime Minister David Cameron has acknowledged that the government still has a long way to go to raise standards across the NHS. |
| Mr Cameron encouraged the idea of "hourly rounding", where nurses check on patients every hour, as part of a package of nursing measures in January. | Mr Cameron encouraged the idea of "hourly rounding", where nurses check on patients every hour, as part of a package of nursing measures in January. |
| Some 31% of nurses on general wards in the survey said they were not aware of this being introduced where they worked. | Some 31% of nurses on general wards in the survey said they were not aware of this being introduced where they worked. |
| The issue of care standards will come to the fore again when the Francis report into the Mid Staffs Trust is published on Wednesday. | The issue of care standards will come to the fore again when the Francis report into the Mid Staffs Trust is published on Wednesday. |
| Inquiry chairman Robert Francis QC will present the final report to Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, before the minister makes a Commons statement. | Inquiry chairman Robert Francis QC will present the final report to Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, before the minister makes a Commons statement. |
| The £13m inquiry was set up after a Healthcare Commission report in 2009 found "appalling standards" of care. | The £13m inquiry was set up after a Healthcare Commission report in 2009 found "appalling standards" of care. |
| In response to the survey, the government said there were more clinical staff working in the NHS now than when it came to power in May 2010. | In response to the survey, the government said there were more clinical staff working in the NHS now than when it came to power in May 2010. |
| About 2,500 new nurses started working in the NHS in October 2012 alone, it added. | About 2,500 new nurses started working in the NHS in October 2012 alone, it added. |
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