The RCN appear to be very concerned about the wellbeing of staff and the patients too. It would seem that the intensive care units all across the UK are at very high levels right now and they are operating far beyond the capacity they have. It’s been recognised that there are not enough ICUS or critical care nurses working in the industry and they are having to reduce the nurse to patient ratio of 1:1 just so that they can help to meet the demand. Those who work in a nursing recruitment agency right now, or even those who operate a nurse agency will know this already.

The NHS England have worked to try and provide as much guidance as possible and they are also trying to give help to those who might need it during Covid-19. They have stated that staffing standards for those who are in intensive care can easily be suspended. The RCN understands that members need to try and avoid the ICU from being diluted and they also need to try and avoid any short-staffed ward areas too. They are very firm that the dilution of the nurse to patient ratio should only happen if there are very exceptional circumstances. Even though there is a lot of escalation for the regional and national care networks, it would seem that even inner regional assistances have been completely exhausted. The RCN have sought to see if they can find some kind of confirmation to see how the context right now could help those who really need it. The departments of health in the four different nations could easily provide much more guidance of how the increased work requirements are being managed. The RCN Chief Executive has stated that the safe ratio for those who are intensive care would be one to one, but as this is changed, it would seem that lives are put at risk.