Warning against nursing cutbacks

The comment was made by Janice Smyth, of the Royal College of Nursing in her address to delegates at the major nursing conference held at the Magee Campus of the University of Ulster.

She also warned politicians about the dangers of cutting back spending on health.

The conference at the University of Ulster's Magee campus was held to examine the problems currently faced by the health service.

It also enquired into the legacy of Florence Nightingale.

In her address Ms Smyth said: "What's important to nurses is that they have the resources, the staff and the nurses on the ground to provide adequate care to patients.

"What distresses nurses and makes them anxious and concerned is when they believe that they are going off duty, not having done for their patients what they would wish to do."