Beginning my journey as a newly registered nurse has been a whirlwind of growth and change. I’ve been welcomed warmly to the wards by doctors and nursing colleagues, but the camaraderie masks a daunting increase in my duties. Every day, still only a few months into my role, I have an almost overwhelming amount of responsibility for my patients’ care. It’s a job I love, but when we have too many patients and not enough support, it can feel impossible.
The government should be doing more. New data from the Royal College of Nursing reveals that more than half of the public (54 per cent) believe the health secretary is legally responsible for NHS service delivery. After all, it’s ministers who are meant to ensure nursing vacancies are filled. The harsh truth is that ministers carry no legal responsibility for safe care – it’s nursing staff like me who are accountable.
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