Nurses are sounding the alarm: Britain’s healthcare system is on the brink of collapse and in many cases standards of care can no longer be maintained. And as a report shows, patients in British hospitals are now dying in the corridors.
“The experiences of more than 5,000 nurses in Britain reveal a devastating collapse in standards of care that routinely harms patients,” ntv said in a published report based on a survey of nurses by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) union.
The research from the end of December shows that British hospitals are at their limit.
“Patient safety at risk”
Nine in ten nurses said “patient safety was at risk”, and two-thirds of those surveyed said they had to care for their patients “every day” in “overcrowded or unsuitable places” – for example in hospital corridors, in converted closets or even in parking lots and laundry rooms. These conditions are “not the exception, but the rule,” explained a nurse from eastern England.
The “normalization” of so-called corridor maintenance must be condemned, the report said. “Vulnerable people are being robbed of their dignity and healthcare workers are being denied access to vital equipment,” said Nicola Ranger, RCN general secretary. You could say “categorically” that “patients die in this situation.”
As early as June 2024, the RCN declared a ‘national emergency’ due to overcrowding in hospitals in Britain and care in inappropriate locations.
Also consequences for emergency care
The situation in British hospitals also has consequences for emergency care. Last month alone, 54,000 patients had to wait more than twelve hours at the outpatient clinic until a hospital bed was available. This is an increase of 23 percent compared to the previous year.
According to the NHS, Britain’s national health service, about 96 percent of all hospital beds were occupied last week. The main reason for this is various “winter viruses”.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
