NHS staff are being urged to record nurse-to-patient ratios today (Tuesday) as hospitals face unprecedented demand, says UNISON.
A snapshot of the pressures facing NHS staff will be recorded over 24 hours in UNISON’s sixth annual safe staffing survey.
In addition to nurse-to-patient ratios, respondents will record any overtime worked, whether they took their breaks and the number of bank and agency staff on their shift.
UNISON head of health Christina McAnea said: “We are facing the worst ever year for demand in the NHS and this is the busiest time of the year for hospitals, placing them under huge strain.
“NHS staff want to give patients safe, dignified and compassionate care yet nearly two-thirds (63%) of respondents to last year’s survey thought there were too few people working on their shift to allow this.
“We expect this year’s snapshot to show just how desperate the situation has become and how hard staff are working to keep things together.”
Nurses must submit their data via the online survey by 9am on Monday (13 February) for it to be included in this year’s results.
Notes to editors:
– To read the results of last year’s survey please click here
– Nurses need to keep track of the following during their shift on Tuesday 7 February: the length of their shift, if they worked any overtime, the number of patients and nurses on their shift, whether they were able to take some or all of their breaks, the percentage of their shift spent working face-to-face with patients, the number of bank and/or agency staff, and whether their workplace has a set staffing ratio.
Media contacts:
Alan Weaver T: 0207 121 5555 M: 07939 143310 E: a.weaver@unison.co.uk
Liz Chinchen T: 0207 121 5463 M: 07778 158175 E: l.chinchen@unison.co.uk
