Responding to the Royal College of Nursing's (RCN) professional standards on staffing for the nursing workforce in the UK, the deputy chief executive of NHS Providers, Saffron Cordery said:

"As the immediate threats of the pandemic begin to abate, trusts and other NHS bodies are reflecting on the past year. Nurses have played a critical role on the frontline and across the service in many different positions, and their achievements have been extraordinary.

"We agree with the RCN that enough staff need to be recruited and retained not only to address existing workforce gaps, but to help build vital flexibility into the system to protect staff wellbeing and development.

NHS bodies must recognise the specific workforce needs that have emerged or been reemphasised this past year, to ensure that the correct lessons are learnt.

Saffron Cordery    Deputy Chief Executive

"NHS bodies must recognise the specific workforce needs that have emerged or been reemphasised this past year, to ensure that the correct lessons are learnt.

"While the toll of the pandemic on the workforce has been huge, innovative new ways of working such as flexible deployment, staff working to the top of their license, and better communication across teams and organisations have been hugely helpful in the delivery of care.

"We have seen what can be achieved through transformation, and NHS bodies and policy makers are seizing this opportunity to consider new ways of working to make the future of the health and care system more sustainable."