Written question asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Earl Howe (Conservative) on Monday, 20 December 2010.

Health: Nurses

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their reaction to the finding of the Royal College of Nursing in its report Guidance on Safe Nurse Staffing Levels in the UK that two in five nurses report that care is compromised at least once a week due to short staffing .

Answer: The Government welcome the Royal College of Nursing report, Guidance on Safe Nurse Staffing Levels in the UK, which rightly illustrates the complexities of staffing and its relationship with the quality of care. We are concerned about the report’s statement that two in five nurses state care is compromised at least once a week due to short staffing. The Care Quality Commission requires registered providers to demonstrate that there are sufficient numbers of suitably qualified, skilled and experienced persons employed for the purposes of carrying out regulated activity. We expect trust boards to have systems and structures in place to monitor staffing levels and respond appropriately to changes in requirements.

Secondary information