Letter: Not enough nurses in the NHS

Letter: There has been much criticism levelled at today's nurses, predominantly surrounding the graduate path they must follow; and while not completely convinced this produces better nurses, I have considerable empathy with the profession.

The issue is not that modern nurses are "too posh to wash", or "too clever to care". It is that hospitals are hugely understaffed, and there is not enough nursing staff available to make the difference.

Nursing staff today do not have the luxury of time to spend with individual patients, and with current budget cuts within the NHS, the situation will only get worse.

Of an intake of more than 80 student nurses (of which just over 40 will qualify this summer) I understand just three have gained a promise of full-time employment in the NHS.

It is no wonder the Royal College of Nursing recently passed a no confidence mot-ion against Andrew Lansley and his NHS reforms. It remains to be seen if the Government will listen, and abandon a Health Bill universally criticised.

Peter Sayles

Oswestry