NHS job cuts harming patient care and safety, say staff

55 per cent said they believed cuts had “significantly impacted on patient care and safety”.

NHS job cuts have harmed hospital care and patient safety, according to a survey UNISON conducted among its members (Getty)

NHS job cuts have harmed hospital care and patient safety, according to more than half of UNISON union members working in the health service have reported.

A survey of nurses, midwives, paramedics, and social care staff carried out by the union, which represents nearly half a million health sector workers, found that nearly two thirds had experienced staffing cuts in their department in recent months.

55 per cent said they believed cuts had “significantly impacted on patient care and safety”.

The survey also found that two in five NHS workers represented by the union believe the health service is at risk of privatisation.

NHS bodies have made redundancies totalling more than 10,000 in the past three years, and the Royal College of Nursing has reported that then health service is operating with 20,000 fewer nurses than required, because positions vacated by staff retiring or moving on are not being refilled.