NHS guidance on nursing numbers

Hospitals in England should be wary about having nurses care for more than eight patients each on wards during the day, draft NHS guidance suggests.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) says there is more risk of harm if there is a lower ratio of nurses to patients.

But it stopped short of stipulating one to eight was an absolute minimum, saying flexibility might be required.

Branwen Jeffreys reports.