Thousands of jobs could be at risk in the NHS in England because of spending cuts.
The Royal College of Nursing has estimated that between 5,000 and 35,000 jobs could be axed if the NHS pushes ahead with spending cuts.
The union has said the loss of posts would put the health service under "real strain".
The NHS has been asked to find between £15bn and £20bn pounds in efficiency savings over the next three years.
Dr Carter from the Royal College of Nursing said it was "disingenuous" to suggest you could remove £20bn from the £100bn NHS budget and "nothing changes".
"I really can't see that you can take £20bn out and expect everything to carry on as is it is."
He said that losses from redundancies and posts not being replaced on retirement would be felt across the health service, not solely nursing staff.
He continued that staff cuts would have a real impact on patient care.
Health Secretary Andy Burnham promised that frontline jobs would be protected under Labour.
"It would not be right to guarantee every job. But Labour will protect frontline services, which we can't do without protecting frontline staff."
Liberal Democrat health spokesman, Norman Lamb, said: "It's incredibly short-sighted to think the only way to save money in the NHS is to slash and burn services."
Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said: "We know that by cutting bureaucracy and the tick-box targets, we can free nurses to care."
"Because we will increase the NHS budget, savings will be reinvested in frontline care and improvements."
In data collected by the Royal College Of Nursing from 180 trusts in April, nearly all health care workers believed they were already short staffed at least several times a month.
The Royal College of Nursing has estimated that between 5,000 and 35,000 jobs could be axed if the NHS pushes ahead with spending cuts.
The union has said the loss of posts would put the health service under "real strain".
The NHS has been asked to find between £15bn and £20bn pounds in efficiency savings over the next three years.
Dr Carter from the Royal College of Nursing said it was "disingenuous" to suggest you could remove £20bn from the £100bn NHS budget and "nothing changes".
"I really can't see that you can take £20bn out and expect everything to carry on as is it is."
He said that losses from redundancies and posts not being replaced on retirement would be felt across the health service, not solely nursing staff.
He continued that staff cuts would have a real impact on patient care.
Health Secretary Andy Burnham promised that frontline jobs would be protected under Labour.
"It would not be right to guarantee every job. But Labour will protect frontline services, which we can't do without protecting frontline staff."
Liberal Democrat health spokesman, Norman Lamb, said: "It's incredibly short-sighted to think the only way to save money in the NHS is to slash and burn services."
Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said: "We know that by cutting bureaucracy and the tick-box targets, we can free nurses to care."
"Because we will increase the NHS budget, savings will be reinvested in frontline care and improvements."
In data collected by the Royal College Of Nursing from 180 trusts in April, nearly all health care workers believed they were already short staffed at least several times a month.
NEWS BY:http://news.sky.com
