Macmillan responds to Health Committee report into the nursing workforce
Originally published: 26 January 2018
Responding to the Health Committee’s report into the nursing workforce published today (Friday), Macmillan Cancer Support’s Chief Nurse Karen Roberts said:
“It is no secret that the NHS workforce is at a real crisis point, and we are deeply concerned that these unprecedented pressures are impacting on the quality of care cancer patients are receiving.
“We know from our own research that a toxic combination of insurmountable workloads, rising patient numbers and a lack of support and training is creating unsustainable pressure on frontline staff.
“This report highlights the consequence of this unacceptable strain; that patients aren’t getting the support they need, and more nurses are leaving than joining at a time when the need for them has never been greater.
“We welcome Health Education England’s plans to develop a strategy focussed on cancer nursing, but it is crucial the Government now prioritises rapidly improving working conditions and opportunities for nurses, before things get any worse.”
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Notes to Editors
For further information, please contact:
Laura Routledge, Press Officer, Macmillan Cancer Support.
Tel: 0207 091 2063 (out of hours 07801 307068).
About Macmillan Cancer Support
There are 2.5 million people living with cancer in the UK. One in two people are likely to get cancer in their lifetimes. Cancer can affect everything, including a person’s body, relationships and finances.
Macmillan Cancer Support provides practical, emotional and personal support to people affected by cancer every year. The charity is there to support people during treatment, help with work and money worries, and listen when people need to talk about their feelings.
Macmillan receives no government funding and relies on generous donations from the public. People up and down the country show their support for Macmillan — from hosting or attending a World’s Biggest Coffee Morning to running a marathon or giving up alcohol — so the charity can help more and more people affected by cancer every year.
Life with cancer is still your life and Macmillan is there to help you live it.
