Top nurses warn of ‘dangerous’ staff levels

The Safe Staffing Alliance (SSA) says one nurse should look after an absolute maximum of eight patients – but often nurses have to look after more, jeopardising patient care.

The SSA, formed last summer and comprising senior expert nurses, says the 1:8 figure is based on hard evidence and it has issued new recommendations that “under no circumstances” should staffing be allowed to fall below that.

A Southampton University study found that hospitals with more than eight patients per registered nurse (during the day time on general acute wards) would see around 20 more deaths a year than better staffed hospitals. Units with worse staffing levels could expect more “excess” deaths.

A national nursing survey found that wards are run with one registered nurse to eight patients or more approximately 40 per cent of the time.

An SSA statement said: “For the sake of clarity, more than eight patients per registered nurse is the level considered to be unsafe and putting patients at risk. It is not a recommended minimum.”

Speaking for the SSA, Professor Elizabeth Robb, chief executive of the Florence Nightingale Foundation, added: “We are coming together to stand up for patient safety and for the profession.

“We are saying that, with a ratio of one registered nurse to more than eight patients, there is a significantly increased risk of harm. We hope that by coming up with a figure we will give directors of nursing the evidence they need to argue for the staffing levels necessary to provide good care.”

Health Minister Dan Poulter said: “It is for hospitals themselves to decide how many nurses they employ, and they are best placed to do this.”

Dr Poulter said a new chief inspector of hospitals would have powers to take action if hospitals are found to be compromising patient care by not having the right number of staff on wards.