Includes recurring shortages or inadequate deployment of qualified healthcare staff, including nursing cover, unsafe clinical caseloads, required one-to-one nursing care and specialist clinical staffing capacity.
What is not included
Administrative, social-care or other non-healthcare staffing shortages
Competence or training failures where the number and deployment of qualified staff are sufficient
A single temporary absence that does not evidence a continuing capacity control
Named specialty capacity failures where a narrower retained parent directly captures the supported service boundary
Trends
Reports over time
Reports mentioning this concern, over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
NHS England12
Department of Health and Social Care11
Care Quality Commission7
Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust4
Barts Health NHS Trust3
Betsi Cadwaladr University LHB3
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust3
Stockport NHS Foundation Trust3
Swansea Bay University Local Health Board3
University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust3
Aneurin Bevan University LHB2
Cardiff & Vale University LHB2
Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Local Health Board2
Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust2
Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust2
NHS trust49
Executive non-departmental public body13
Healthcare site12
Local health board12
Ministerial department12
Health and social care service regulator7
Integrated care board6
Type not available6
Health professional body2
Independent healthcare provider2
Multi-service care provider2
Nursing home2
Private limited company2
Clinical commissioning group1
Coronial office1
Reports and published responses 85 reports
See individual reports that have raised this concern, and the actions taken in response
Nottinghamshire
Concerns raised1
Insufficient Paediatric staffing at Bassetlaw Hospital
This report raised 4 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
West Sussex
Concerns raised1
Inconsistent daytime consultant presence in the High Dependency Unit
This report raised 14 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked responses
Department of Health and Social Care
Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Define critical-care leadership and accountability under the consultant in charge, with consultant-led handover for junior night staff.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Department of Health and Social Care
NHS Improvement, NHS England, and the Care Quality Commission, working with the Trust and commissioners, were responsible for ensuring appropriate action.
Redirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Manchester City
Concerns raised1
Insufficient staffing levels or staff competence for safe care
This report raised 8 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Brighton and Hove
Concerns raised2
Lack of specialist nursing for patients at high risk of falls
Insufficient staffing for patients in side rooms and balcony areas
This report raised 6 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
South Wales Central
Concerns raised2
Unavailability of additional nursing cover for one-to-one support
Inadequate ward staffing levels for safely caring for patients
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
Swansea Bay University Local Health Board
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
Swansea Bay University Local Health Board
Establish daily staffing monitoring that identifies patients requiring enhanced observation, includes out-of-hours handover, and checks Nurse Bank availability.
Plymouth, Torbay and South Devon
Concerns raised1
Shortage of Cardiac Intensive Care Unit specialist nurses for post-operative patient care
Linked responses
NHS Employers
NHS England
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.6
NHS Employers
Work to ensure NHS trusts can access international nursing labour markets.
NHS Employers
Operate a programme with NHS employers to share good practice and improve staff retention.
NHS Employers
Request specific identification of actions to retain cardiac specialist nurses.
NHS England
Review national registered-nurse supply and its impact on specialist intensive-care nurse recruitment and retention.
NHS England
Review NHS operational plans and workforce requirements to support safe, sustainable workforce models.
NHS England
Continue partnership work with Health Education England to explore and develop specialist critical-care nurse training, development and retention opportunities.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
NHS England
Employers are responsible for specialist nurse training and ongoing specialist cardiac intensive care workforce supply and retention, with support available from HEE.
Redirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Manchester South
Concerns raised1
Insufficient availability of trained nursing staff
This report raised 7 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
Stockport NHS Foundation Trust
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
Stockport NHS Foundation Trust
Merge D2 staff with the Short Stay Surgical Unit and increase weekend capacity to 32 patients, providing additional emergency capacity and redeploying spare staff to staffing gaps.
Manchester South
Concerns raised1
Insufficient junior medical staffing capacity
This report raised 7 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
Review medical staffing rotas to maximise senior cover and monitor staffing levels.
Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
Continue recruiting medical staff and collaborate with Health Education North West and junior doctors to improve training experience and long-term attraction.
Manchester South
Concerns raised1
Inadequate staffing levels and expertise in the ward
This report raised 6 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Manchester South
Concerns raised2
Insufficient nursing staffing capacity
Insufficient medical staffing capacity for patient review
This report raised 5 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
Stockport NHS Foundation Trust
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
Stockport NHS Foundation Trust
Recruit additional nursing staff, including European and international registered nurses, through quarterly cohorts to increase Medicine Business Group capacity.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Stockport NHS Foundation Trust
Out-of-hours staffing arrangements, including prioritisation and access to senior clinicians, were considered adequate for urgent reviews and emergencies.
Existing arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Actions and positions describe what organisations say in published responses. Implementation is not independently verified.
Actions and positions describe what organisations say in published responses. Implementation is not independently verified.