NHS staff levels ‘alarmingly low’ on wards, study finds

A new poll reveals a deepening staffing crisis within the NHS, jeopardising patient safety, particularly in maternity and rehabilitation wards.

A Unison survey of nurses, healthcare assistants, and midwives found that a staggering 69%of shifts were understaffed, a marked increase from 63% just two years ago.

The survey, conducted across 42 hospitals in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, paints a stark picture of the strain on frontline staff.

Workers anonymously reported their experiences after their shifts in October and November of last year, totaling 1,470 shifts surveyed.

Alarmingly, 81% of respondents working in maternity and rehabilitation units, and 82% in elderly care, expressed serious safety concerns due to inadequate staffing levels.

The findings highlight a worrying trend of "red flag" events, indicating serious safety risks, occurring on over half (56%) of all shifts.

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Source: The Independent, 23 April 2025