Responding to new figures published by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), which show a 98% rise in reported suicidal thoughts among nurses compared to the same period last year, Saffron Cordery, deputy chief executive at NHS Providers said:

"The RCN is right to highlight the impact of escalating pressure on nurses' mental health due to increased demand and staff shortages.

"We need urgent action to tackle this situation, which has led to an alarming rise in suicidal thoughts among nursing staff.

"Nurses play a vital role in our society but cannot be expected to meet such high demand without proper national support for, and investment in, frontline services.

"The overwhelming pressure on nurses, who are at the forefront of addressing the huge care backlog, leads to unbearably stressful working conditions shift after shift. This is compounded by wages failing to keep pace with the rising cost of living.

"It's crucial the government recognise that reducing mental health support for nursing staff is unsustainable.

"We were extremely disappointed that the government cut funding for NHS staff mental health hubs earlier this year. A third of them have now closed, leaving an estimated one million healthcare workers without the support they need.

"Investing in the mental health of nurses not only benefits them, but also patients, as the wellbeing of healthcare providers directly impacts patient care."