Jonathan Ashworth MP,
Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary, commenting on the latest Nursing and Midwifery Council data
showing a further fall in numbers on their register, said:
“The new figures from
the NMC expose the Government’s hollow promises on nurse recruitment. Far from
delivering the staff needed to keep patients on wards safe, nurse numbers are
now in fact falling in our NHS. It’s
staggering that numbers are falling when all the evidence shows we need more
nurses in the NHS, not less.
“The truth is that the
Government has totally failed in its planning of the NHS workforce. The
disastrous pay cap has pushed staff to the brink and the end of bursaries has
led to a fall in places on nursing degrees. Now Theresa May’s chaotic approach
to Brexit is directly impacting staffing levels in the NHS.
“With winter coming it is
essential the NHS can get enough staff in place to deliver safe services for
patients. The Government needs to get a grip and come up with a sustainable
long term plan for the NHS which deals with the staffing crisis and gives the
NHS the funding it needs.”
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