The RCN media office is the UK's leading source of information for journalists on nursing issues. Nurses believe that patients are at risk, at least occasionally, in nine out of ten accident and emergency units. But some things cannot wait. Elderly and frail people waiting on trolleys in accident and emergency departments have become a painful symbol of an NHS in crisis.
Nurses becoming totally exhausted is another.
This can and should be ended very quickly. Clearly, we need a 'whole system' approach. The report shows the enormous variation between trusts. We hope that our recommendations will help those trusts with the longest waits to reduce them. We have eight months to get it right across the country to ensure patients and staff don' t have to suffer another winter like this last one.