Alarm Over District Nursing Shortage
Government plans to shift NHS care into the community are under threat due to a severe shortage of district nurses, with an estimated one in four leaving the workforce in the year to September 2024.
A report by the Nuffield Trust warns that failure to invest in district nursing will jeopardize plans to move care closer to home, as district nursing services are in a state of crisis.
- District nursing services provide 24/7 care for patients and support for their families at home, in clinical settings, and in care homes.
- The supply of nurses is declining while demand for care is rising and expected to increase further.
The consequences of a failure to invest in district nursing will be severe, just when it is needed as a cornerstone of community health care.
Ahead of the government's new NHS Workforce Plan, the report highlights the need for urgent action to address the dire state of district nursing.
Author's summary: District nursing crisis threatens NHS care plans.