Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.LIZ HUNT Health Editor
The number of "front-line" staff on hospital wards fell by 13 per cent, or about 50,000, in the five years to 1994, as the number of managers increased by 400 per cent, or more than 18,300, according to figures released yesterday.
Cuts in the number of nurses and midwives varied from 5 per cent in the South West to 22 per cent in Merse, and North West Thames. The number of nurses in training fell by more than 19,000, almost a third, in the same period.
The nurse/manager ratio highlights the dramatic change of emphasis in the health service, Labour said yesterday. In North West Thames there were 297 nurses for every manager in 1989 but 19 in 1994. In North East Thames, the ratio was 61 nurses for every manager in 1989, and 13 in 1994. Labour claimed a "massive slump" in front line NHS staff and said the figures reinforced reports by the British Medical Association of severe staff shortages.
The Royal College of Nursing said the figures reflected their own findings, and that senior nurses in particular were being swept up in "indiscriminate purges".
Earlier this week, paediatricians reported a crisis in intensive care units, with dangerously sick children, some with meningitis, being turned away because of bed shortages. Although some hospitals have been told they can open new beds to cope with the meningitis scare, shortages of specialist nurses prevents them from doing so.
Henry McLeish, Labour's spokesman on health, said thatevery day there were "10 more senior managers and 30 fewer nurses". The increase in managers varied from 1,100 per cent in North West Thames to 180 per cent in South Western region. Mr McLeish accused the Government of "systematically" covering up the crisis by changing the way figures are compiled.
Gerald Malone, Minister for Health, said there were 34,000 more nurses in the health service than in 1979, while the increase in managers was due to a reclassification of certain jobs.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments