Current Challenges Within The NHS

“Despite these challenges, nurses still provide high-quality care to patients, and their dedication to the profession is truly inspiring. We must continue to support and invest in nursing in the UK, so that we can ensure that patients receive the best possible care now and in the future.”

There are many challenges and changes currently facing the NHS, from the staffing crisis to the ongoing fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. Adult Nurse Amira takes us through these challenges, as well as recent positive developments.

The nursing profession in the United Kingdom has been undergoing significant changes and challenges in recent years. From the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to the ongoing concerns about workforce shortages and pay, there are many current affairs in nursing that are of great importance to both healthcare professionals and the general public.

The Staffing Crisis

One of the most pressing issues in nursing in the UK right now is the ongoing staffing crisis. According to a report by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), there are currently around 50,000 nursing vacancies across the country, and this number is expected to rise to 70,000 by 2023 if action is not taken.

The reasons for this shortage are complex, but factors such as Brexit, the ageing population, and the high-stress nature of the job are all thought to be contributing factors.

In response to the staffing crisis, the UK government has announced several measures to try and increase the number of nurses working in the country. One of these measures is the introduction of nursing apprenticeships, which allow people to train on the job while earning a wage. The hope is that this will attract more people into the profession and help to address the workforce shortages.

NHS Pay

Another issue that has been brought to the forefront in recent years is the pay of nurses in the UK. Many nurses feel that they are not being adequately compensated for the important and often challenging work that they do.

In 2021, the government announced a pay rise for NHS staff, including nurses, but this was met with criticism from many in the profession who felt that the increase was not enough to reflect the value of their work. The average pay rise granted last year was 4.75% with the lowest paid receiving the biggest rises.

However, inflation has peaked. Unions have demanded a 14% pay rise for 2023/24 which would be above inflation.

The Impact Of The Pandemic

In addition to workforce and pay concerns, the nursing profession has also been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Nurses have been at the forefront of the pandemic response, working long hours in challenging conditions to care for patients with the virus.

The pandemic has highlighted the importance of nursing in the UK and has brought to light the incredible dedication and resilience of those working in the profession. This was great morale boost for nurses as they were literally being applauded and being shown appreciation for their work along with other healthcare workers.

Since then, however, it appears that healthcare professionals seem to have been forgotten about. I understand that we cannot always be highlighted for the work we do however good morale never hurt anyone. We’re currently seeing a 18.6% decrease in the number of nursing applications compare to last year. Along with this UCAS polling on student attitudes showed that cost of living factors are making applicants re-evaluate their choice of subject based on value and career prospects.

The pandemic has also highlighted some of the challenges facing nursing in the UK, particularly around mental health, and wellbeing. Nurses have reported high levels of stress and burnout because of the pandemic, with many struggling to cope with the emotional toll of caring for patients with COVID-19.

Despite these challenges, nurses still provide high-quality care to patients, and their dedication to the profession is truly inspiring. We must continue to support and invest in nursing in the UK, so that we can ensure that patients receive the best possible care now and in the future.

Supporting Nurses’ Mental Health

There has been a renewed focus on supporting the mental health and wellbeing of healthcare professionals, with initiatives such as the NHS People Plan to aim to address this issue.

Two in five nurses say their mental health is worse now than it was during the pandemic, reveals a survey at Nursing Times.

Of course, there are many factors that can affect this. We have gone from receiving free parking, incentives, and national appreciation to that support effectively being stopped. In addition, we are seeing our NHS services being overstretched and many nurses are having to deal with short staffing on a daily basis.

Technology & Innovation

Another important development in nursing in the UK is the increasing focus on technology and innovation.

Digital health tools are becoming increasingly important in healthcare, and nurses are at the forefront of implementing these technologies in clinical practice. From electronic health records to telemedicine, nurses are using technology to improve patient care and outcomes.

This can be beneficial across all healthcare settings as it means we use less storage. For example, many care homes struggle with storage as often it’s the last which comes to mind. In this example, electronic record would be ideal however there would also need to be hard copies of records in case of power outage or even system failures.

Diversity & Inclusion

Finally, there is a growing recognition of the importance of diversity and inclusion in nursing in the UK.

Nurses from diverse backgrounds bring unique skills and experiences to the profession, and it is important that the workforce reflects the communities it serves.

The RCN has launched a campaign to increase the diversity of the nursing workforce, with a particular focus on increasing the number of nurses from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds.

Conclusion

In conclusion, nursing in the UK is facing a number of challenges and opportunities.

From workforce shortages and pay concerns to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the increasing focus on technology and innovation, there is a lot going on in the world of nursing.

However, despite these challenges, nurses have continued to provide high-quality care to patients every day, and their dedication and commitment to the profession is truly inspiring.

It is important that we continue to support and invest in nursing in the UK, so that we can ensure that patients receive the best possible care both now and in the future.