The Royal College of Nursing found in a new research study that the shortage of medical staff in the UK is affecting medical care for the elderly people in the country.

The shortage is affecting all aspects from basic communications to the medical care for the elderly people, according to the study. The Royal College of Nursing has said that the medical system should maintain the minimum staff levels to improve the condition and pointed out tat one nurse was needed for every seven patients.

The study comes after a series of reports highlighting the situtation of worsening elder care in the country. Both the Patients Association and Care Quality Commission have published individual studies indicating shocking levels of care.

The shortage in medical staff has been felt since a directive from the EU the number of hours people can work in the week to 48. Experts say that the directive is causing millions of pounds to the taxpayers because of a significant increase in salaries demanded by doctors to fill these shortages in hospitals.

Politicians have said that nurses will be given more powers to improve monitoring to drive up standards but the union said that the government should look to establish and follow a strict minimum staffing level and not just rely on existing staff to fill the gaps.

Peter Carter, the RCN's general secretary said, “Patients on older people's wards are being let down by systemic failings in our hospitals. Despite working tirelessly to provide patients with high quality care, nurses in these settings have repeatedly told us that they are unable to do this because of pressures caused by short staffing.”