Cuts and bruises: Nurses heckle Minister over state of NHS

He faced heckles and laughter from delegates at the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) annual congress in Harrogate after claiming there had been real-term increases in NHS spending, cuts in waiting lists and growth in clinical staffing in the last two years – although he admitted there were 3,000 fewer nurses.

RCN chief executive Peter Carter won a standing ovation after he warned there was a “great deal of unhappiness” at the way nurses were not being listened to or respected by employers over the worsening situation as the NHS battles to save £20 billion.

Later, he said: “There does seem to be this disconnect between what the Secretary of State perceives as happening and the reality on the ground.”

He added it was “nonsense” there were more clinical staff.

“Patient care has been affected. Services are under greater strain than ever before. We think nurses are doing their level best they can but certainly there is huge strain in the system.”

Facing a series of hostile questions, Mr Lansley claimed more resources were reaching the frontline as savings were being reinvested in care although he pointed to six hospitals – among them Dewsbury and Leeds – where inspectors had uncovered unsafe staffing levels.

He added: “If any of you have a view that staffing levels are not safe for patients, I think part of your responsibility is to say that.”