Nurses call for urgent meeting over staff shortages

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has ordered managers at Wakefield’s Pinderfields Hospital and Dewsbury and District Hospital to act after uncovering staffing problems on wards caring for the elderly.

Inspectors said there were not always enough qualified nurses on duty and found no evidence that action had been taken by senior managers when concerns had been raised.

The critical reports are the latest at the Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust which is facing major financial difficulties.

Officials at the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) say they want “firm reassurance” action is being taken.

RCN officer Peta Clark said: “No matter what financial difficulties are faced by Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, patient safety must always come first.

“Over the last 18 months the CQC has been picking up on failures by this trust to maintain appropriate staffing levels. The trust has informed us that they have begun to recruit new staff but it takes time to get everyone in place with the right training and understanding of local procedures.

“We also know that this is not just a recruitment issue – changes to contracts mean that nurses are being asked to work long shifts which is reducing staff morale and making it harder to recruit and retain staff.

“All of these factors make it harder than ever to maintain staffing levels on the wards in order to ensure patients can be cared for safely.

“The trust has to be absolutely confident that the staffing levels are appropriate for the numbers of patients who pass through the trust’s doors and that they have enough staff to treat every single patient with dignity and respect.

“We have written to the trust to request an urgent meeting and we will be seeking firm reassurance that action is being taken to address these concerns before patients are seriously affected.”

Trust chief nurse Sally Napper said: “We are working hard to improve our care and action has already been taken to address the issues raised by the CQC.”

Ward-by-ward reviews of staffing levels were carried out daily and recruitment into front-line vacancies had been speeded up, with 180 appointments into unfilled and new posts since May in a £2m recruitment drive, she said.

“We look forward to working with the RCN as we always encourage and welcome constructive dialogue with our staff and their representatives,” she added.