The RCN has highly criticised the recommended 30% Integrated Care Board (ICB) operational expense reductions as “unsafe and rushed.” The cuts, due for implementation by April 2025, are part of NHS-wide efficiency but have been accompanied by huge alarms on patient safety and staffing.
Concerns Over Patient Safety and Staffing Levels
RCN is warning that the blanket implementation of such cuts threatens to destabilise patient care. With more than 34,000 nursing vacancies and a projection that up to 175,000 will retire over the next decade, the union contends that cutting numbers further might worsen shortage pressures and detrimentally affect patient outcomes.
Financial Pressures and Staffing Challenges
NHS leaders are being subjected to huge finance pressures, and the majority of ICBS have plans in place for deficits. A survey bythe NHS Confederation showed that leaders are having to deliver average efficiency savings of 6%, with some being asked for as much as 11% in certain areas. More than half of ICB and NHS trust respondents forecast that they will not achieve their targets unless they receive more money from NHS England.
Calls to Go to Law over Staffing Numbers
RCN is calling for safe staffing law conditions in England, as there are in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. In Scotland, for example, the Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Act 2019, effective from April 2024, will mandate NHS and care providers to deliver safe staffing so that safe and effective care can be facilitated.
Conclusion
As the NHS works through these budget cuts, the RCN demands a more thoughtful approach to reduce, focusing on patient safety and staff well-being. The union demands open planning, proper funding, and legal safeguards to prevent the quality of care from being threatened by cost-cutting measures.