It outlines five key issues that jeopardised patient care following previous downturns, including unfilled vacancies, reduced training and public health budgets, slash-and-burn job cuts and low staff morale.

Dr Peter Carter, the RCN's chief executive and general secretary, said: ‘The NHS has made excellent progress in recent years — it would be devastating for these gains to be lost. Nurses can and should lead the way in introducing innovations to help improve patient care and to make the NHS as effective as possible.

‘As we approach the next general election it is important that all political parties realise the impact these decisions could have on the 1.3 million people working in the NHS.'

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