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Nurses 'forced to ration care'

Hospital nurses are being forced to "ration care" because they don't have enough time to properly look after patients, a new study suggests. Fundamental aspects of care are "frequently being left undone", researchers found.

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Hospitals must decide 'how many nurses to employ'

Hospitals themselves must decide how many and which staff they employ. But we have been absolutely clear that these decisions must be based on providing the best patient care and hospitals should publish details and evidence to show that staffing numbers are right for the care needs of the patients that they look after.

The new chief inspector of hospitals will be able to take action if hospitals are found to be compromising patient care by not having the right number of staff on wards.

We are also working with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, the Care Quality Commission and NHS England to develop better tools to help hospitals decide their staffing numbers.

– Department of Health spokeswoman

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