Petitions/Introduce legally enforceable safe nurse-to-patient staffing ratios in the NHS
StatusClosed
Opened25 Sept 2025
Closes25 Mar 2026
Government responseResponded
Parliamentary debateNot eligible
Milestones 10,000

Make minimum staffing levels a legal requirement by introducing national nurse-to-patient ratios that can help guarantee patient safety and protect staff wellbeing.

We believe recent government cuts have worsened understaffing issues, pushing services to a tipping point. Patients can be left waiting, care can be rushed, and harm can occur. There are reports of nurses burning out and leaving in record numbers. We feel unsafe care has become normal and is endangering both patients and staff. We think action is urgently needed to protect lives and sustain the NHS.

10,439Total signatures
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Government response

There are no plans to make nurse-to-patient ratios a legal requirement in England. Staffing levels are determined locally, supported by national guidance and regulated by the Care Quality Commission.

Constituency engagement ranking

Ian Roome
1Ian Roome MP
North Devon
512
Sir Geoffrey Cox
2Sir Geoffrey Cox MP
Torridge and Tavistock
234
Mr Toby Perkins
3Mr Toby Perkins MP
Chesterfield
183
Andrew Pakes
4Andrew Pakes MP
Peterborough
161
Natalie Fleet
5Natalie Fleet MP
Bolsover
157
Steve Yemm
6Steve Yemm MP
Mansfield
134
Lee Anderson
7Lee Anderson MP
Ashfield
131
Mr Hamish Falconer
8Mr Hamish Falconer MP
Lincoln
108
Louise Sandher-Jones
9Louise Sandher-Jones MP
North East Derbyshire
103
Sam Carling
10Sam Carling MP
North West Cambridgeshire
102