Nurses were faced with an ‘unimaginable scale of death’ during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Royal College of Nursing (RCN). The college was responding to new evidence given to the UK government’s COVID-19 Inquiry with former clinical adviser in emergency preparedness Professor Kevin Fong, who broke down in tears as he recalled the state of disarray of the NHS during the first wave of the pandemic.
The General Secretary and Chief Executive of the RCN, Professor Nicola Ranger, referred to reports of traumatic impact amongst NHS staff, stating that: ‘Today’s evidence profoundly captures the relentless devastation nursing staff faced during the pandemic. Despite trying to give patients the best care, they faced an almost unimaginable scale of death in a health and care system which was completely overwhelmed.’
Nursing staff were continually forced to put themselves at risk trying to work around staff shortages, with as many as six intubated ICU patients assigned to each nurse as ‘nursing was left to fend for itself.’ Professor Fong told the inquiry that one hospital had ‘10 deaths on a shift, two of whom were their own staff.’
Professor Ranger stressed that the RCN had previously warned that staffing shortages posed as ‘a serious threat to a pandemic response’ but were ultimately ignored, and called for meaningful change.
‘The voices of nursing professionals are finally being heard at the COVID-19 Inquiry, but this must also result in action. Never again can we fail to properly resource and protect our vital profession.’