UNISON Reports Alarming Nurse Staffing Gaps in UK Hospitals

London, United Kingdom – UNISON reported today that hospitals in the UK are facing significant nursing staff shortages, putting patients at risk of harm from falls, medication errors, and other safety concerns.

According to a union survey, 69% of clinical staff working on hospital shifts felt there were not enough nurses present to provide safe care. This figure marks an increase from 63% reported earlier this year.

The findings stem from surveys completed by clinical staff at over 40 hospitals across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, with data collected from 1,470 shifts in October and November 2024.

The highest concerns regarding safety were reported in maternity wards, rehabilitation units, and geriatric care, with alarming percentages of 81%, 81%, and 82% respectively. The survey also showed that serious safety incidents, classified as ‘red flag’ events, occurred in more than half of the shifts where staff levels were deemed insufficient.

On these unsafe shifts, over half of the workers reported delays of more than 30 minutes in providing pain relief. Conversely, only 12% of shifts with adequate staffing reported similar delays.

Despite these alarming findings, the percentage of workers raising staffing concerns with their employers has decreased – from 71% in 2023 to 64% this year. Only one in five received a satisfactory response from their employers regarding safety improvements.

Stuart Tuckwood, UNISON’s national nursing officer, emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “These figures show staffing levels across the health service are alarmingly low on a regular basis. Urgent investment is needed in hospital staffing to ensure patients are kept safe.”

The union also noted that only one in twelve hospitals sampled were fully implementing safety measures designed to prevent failings in care, as recommended after the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust scandal.

This report serves as a critical reminder of the ongoing crisis in NHS staffing levels and the immediate need for reforms to protect patient safety.