The prime minister told a conference of NHS Trust and Primary Care Trust chief executives today that the NHS must become a "world class employer" if patients are to receive first rate care.

Meanwhile, health secretary Alan Milburn has launched a recruitment drive to tempt staff back to the NHS. He said: "We have already met our NHS Plan pledge to get 20,000 nurses, midwives and health visitors working in the NHS. The increase in recent record numbers of nurses into the NHS needs to be spread to other health professions."

Forum Response: Royal College of Nursing

Dr Beverly Malone, general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, told ePolitix.com: "The RCN is encouraged by the prime minister's acknowledgement that having enough nursing staff is key to delivering health care. Investment in patients and investment in nurses are two sides of the same coin.

"We are pleased to see that recruitment of new staff and returners is increasing. We are now concerned that sufficient resources are set aside to modernise pay and career structures in order that the very high drop out rates begin to decline.

"The RCN believes that staff are the NHS's most important resource in delivering core services in hospitals, clinics and communities and in implementing new, innovative approaches to care in a variety of settings.

"We are encouraged that the government has met its nurse recruitment targets for the past year. But there can be no room for complacency as there are still areas of the health service with shortages. We welcome the new recruitment drive for more nurses, midwives and health professionals.

"We have to be prepared for the age time bomb. More than a quarter of nursing staff are currently over 50 years of age. The government must plan today to provide the workforce for tomorrow."

Forum Response: Unison

Paul Marks, national secretary for health at Unison, told ePolitix.com: "There is a wealth of skill and experience out there that has been lost over time and we need to bring back the missing workers into the NHS. Despite meeting recruitment targets for nurses, there are still significant shortages across the country. This is leading to an the over-reliance on expensive agency workers which drains money away from the NHS.

"Retention is the key, feeling part of an NHS that is supported and valued, with staff properly rewarded for the work that they do. It is vital that NHS workers feel part of that team and are not constantly under threat from private contractors and privatisation."