'All the evidence points to a severe nursing shortage, but still government departments insist there is no crisis'.
Personnel managers in three NHS regions have set up taskforces to tackle the recruitment crisis which has hit the nursing profession. Birmingham went on 'yellow alert' last month, not because of a shortage of money or beds, but because there weren't enough nurses. Successive reports throughout the year have highlighted the need for skilled staff in intensive care, theatres and neonatal care. It is now estimated that some £8 million is spent in trying to recruit nurses.'All the evidence points to a severe nursing shortage, hut still government departments insist there is no crisis.'