Nurses in the UK have expressed concerns over the safe of their patients with learning disabilities in the wake of cuts in services, according to a new study.

The study that included nearly 500 nurse showed that about three out of four nurses saw cut in service in their area within the previous year. The Royal College of Nursing has claimed that the community health services are being affected and could reach a breaking point as nurses are being overloaded with additional work.

The association said that the cuts to councils and hospitals have resulted in overburdening of nurses within the NHS. RCN said the initiatives of moving care to the community were proving to be a "facade" as community services were "under-invested and over-burdened".

The claims are based on a new research that included online feedback from nearly 2,700 nurses in the community including district nurses working for GP practices as well as in mental health. About 9 out of 10 nurses said that their work load has increased over the last year and some say that they even have to perform duties of council social care teams like shopping and making meals for the patients.

Meanwhile, Labour leader Ed Miliband is set to back nurses in voicing their concerns over the changes to the NHS and is set to describe them as "the defenders of the health service" at a recent event.