At least a third of hospitals routinely have dangerously large gaps in their rotas, with baby and critical care units worst hit.
A Daily Mail investigation reveals that one in three hospitals in England routinely experience significant nursing shortages, with critical care and neonatal units being particularly affected. This shortfall, impacting patient safety and care quality, is linked to increased risk of death and neglect. Data, collected for nearly two years across 250 hospitals, shows a concerning gap between planned and actual nurse staffing levels, despite NHS England claiming improved retention and fewer vacancies.
