Nurses are “unable to pay rent” and are relying on food banks, MPs have heard. The Royal College of Nursing said the nursing workforce is in a “critical situation”.
The warning comes as reports suggest that six NHS trusts have set up food banks for staff to help with the rising cost of living. Dr Denise Chaffer, president of the college, said that pay is also linked to safe care for patients.
She said that staff retention was a “critical issue” in the sector and it was having a major impact on safe staffing levels of nurses. At a meeting of the Health and Social Care Committee, Dr Chaffer said: “The situation for nursing is really quite critical at the moment.
