A new report has identified ten key indicators which show the enormous stress health services are under, refuting the government’s claims that pressures are sustainable.

The Royal College of Nursing has repeatedly called for the government to tackle the nursing workforce crisis and this report reiterates that addressing workforce shortages must be treated as an urgent priority.

The college’s latest report states that action is urgently needed to retain as many nursing staff as possible in light of serious staffing vacancies, as well as high levels of exhaustion and burnout.

The ten areas that currently demonstrate unsustainable, untenable conditions within the health and care system across England include: the current NHS bed occupancy rate; nursing staff sickness absences; social care workforce vacancies; NHS hospital waiting times; high Covid-19 infection rates; and increased demand fo social care services.

Patricia Marquis, RCN Director for England, said: “Speak to any nurse and they will tell you just how concerned they are for their patients as well as their colleagues. They have known for a long time just how the pressures have been growing and they can see the risk to patient care every single day in every part of health and care.

“This was coming long before the pandemic and is a direct consequence of a long-term failure to invest in the nursing workforce. The government must wake up to the reality and provide the investment that is needed to ensure patient care is not damaged any further.”