London has the UK's most ethnically diverse population. TB is associated with poor housing, homelessness and social deprivation. Around a third of the 30,000 people in the UK with HIV live in London. London also has a higher than average proportion of people with mental health problems. London's health services thus face unique demands.
Pressure is intensified by the fact that London has the worst nursing shortages in England .
The Casualty Watch survey in January 2000 found some of the longest patient waits in accident and emergency units were in outer London hospitals. Furthermore, London is home to many of the country's specialist services. Nurses are involved in all aspects of providing health care to Londoners, from staffing London's busy hospitals and GP practices to working in the community as health visitors, district nurses, school nurses, midwives, public health nurses and community mental health nurses. Nurses work closely with other public services in London, for example helping the police support victims of domestic violence and rape. Nurses are also employed outside the health service - in local authorities, prisons, and as occupational health nurses in businesses across the capital.