More practical support for nursing staff is needed from the capital’s leaders, the director of RCN London has told members of the London Assembly.
Lisa Elliott asked Assembly Members to be more proactive to support nursing staff to work and live in London, including help to access affordable housing and concessions on travel.
A delegation of RCN members went to City Hall on Wednesday 15 October, giving the London Assembly key insights into the real challenges faced by nursing staff across the capital.
The discussion was chaired by Emma Best, Chair of the Health Committee. Assembly Members Krupesh Hirani, Marina Ahmad, Elly Baker, Joanne McCartney, and Zoë Garbett also attended the session.
Several key issues were raised by RCN members, including the rise of corridor care and how it has become the new “normal.” Zebina Ratansi, a recently retired Director of Nursing at a leading London hospital, spoke about the struggles she faced as a nursing leader. Zebina said:
“As a nurse for over 40 years, I couldn’t face going into another winter working in an environment where I knew the quality of patient care was deteriorating, despite my best efforts to maintain it.”
Aidan Slowie, Chair of the RCN London Board and Lead Nurse at King’s College Hospital, spoke about the impact of corridor care on patients—especially on children and young people. He also described the emotional toll on nursing staff, highlighting the growing prevalence of moral injury: when nurses are forced to make care decisions that conflict with their values, the resulting inner conflict can be deeply distressing.
Rebecca Daniels, a Community Children’s Matron in East London, highlighted that corridor care often goes “unseen” in community settings, yet its harmful effects on patients, such as missed care and poorer outcomes, are just as significant.
Increasing violence and aggression towards nursing staff was also highlighted. RCN members described how long waiting times are leading to growing frustration among patients and their families, which is often directed at nursing staff. Sam Nurhussain, a Dual Diagnosis Practitioner working in community mental health services, reflected on the impact of the . He explained that while the policy aims to ensure people in crisis receive the right support, in practice it has sometimes left frontline staff - including community and hostel workers - managing very complex situations without enough support. This pressure often falls back on nurses and mental health teams, who end up holding risk that was never meant to sit with health services alone. RCN members agreed on the need to rebuild close joint working between health, social care, police and the voluntary sector to keep both patients and staff safe.
The high cost of living and working in London was another key theme. Members explained how rising housing and travel costs are acting as barriers to recruiting and retaining staff. Rebecca Daniels, shared the unique challenges faced by community staff—particularly the financial burden of maintaining their cars for work and the difficulties of parking during home visits.
Speaking at the end of the session, RCN London Director Lisa Elliott told Assembly Members:
“We need the London Assembly to work with us to help raise the issues that matter most to nursing staff and the patients they care for.
“London’s health and care system is operating in a challenging environment, and our members are telling us that financial constraints placed on NHS leaders are forcing trusts to review nursing establishments, close beds, and reduce some services. The London Assembly can play a key role in highlighting these concerns and holding the mayor and NHS leaders to account.
“Assembly members can also take a proactive role in advocating for support for nursing staff. Concessions on travel and access to affordable housing are tangible actions the Mayor of London can take to better support London’s nursing community.”
The London Assembly holds the Mayor of London to account, including on matters of public health and health inequalities. Its Health Committee conducts investigations into health and wellbeing issues affecting Londoners and makes recommendations to the mayor and other bodies such as NHS London.
