Nursing shortfall hits Britain

Nursing shortages throughout Britain are resulting in an acute shortfall in medical beds, while admissions to NHS hospitals continue to rise (see also p 134). London and the south east seem to be particularly hard hit, but areas as far apart as Pontefract and Plymouth are reporting an inability to fill skilled nursing posts.

This week alone the magazine Nursing Times carried 96 pages of classified advertisements for vacant nursing jobs—the largest number in the history of the magazine.

“It's been like this for over a year now, and …