The Department of Health has recently outlined its 5-year plan for transforming the health service from ‘good to great’. Its strategy is to make the NHS ‘preventative, people-centred and productive’.
The huge amounts of change that have already taken place in the NHS are a tribute to the hard work of healthcare professionals and policy-makers. Whether it has been the vast reduction in waiting times, or lowering mortality rates from cancer; we have seen huge progress and significant change already in the NHS.
However, an NHS that does not react to the changing needs of the patients and potential patients is an NHS that stands still. We must be constantly aspiring to advancement and improvement and questioning how we can make a good health service into something great.
I believe that it is through front-line staff and front-line services that great healthcare can be achieved. This is why it is so crucial that in the 5-year plan, the NHS has included a dedication to not cutting front-line services.
As demands on the health service continue to increase, we must never compromise care for cuts. The increasing burden of preventable health problems means that we must offer prevention rather than just cure. Alcohol and smoking each cost the NHS £2.7 billion a year and obesity cost £4.2 billion in 2007, a figure which is expected to rise to £6.3 billion in just five years.
The DH plan recognises that a forward-thinking health service must be patient-centred, focusing on care, compassion and choice. Together we can go from good to great, with nursing at the heart of this progress.
You can read the RCN response to the plan here and read the full 5-year plan on the Department of Health website.
Wednesday, 16 December 2009
Wednesday, 25 November 2009
Dealing with Dementia...
Last week, the Alzheimer’s Society released an eye-opening report about the care received by people with dementia in our hospitals. Some of the 700,000 individuals living with dementia in Britain today experience an unacceptable variation in the quality of care and the number of those who suffer from the illness is expected to rise significantly over the next few years.
The report studied the responses of carers, nurses and ward managers. The results are clear - patients with dementia stay in hospital for longer periods of time, which in turn has a detrimental effect not only on their general health, but also on their dementia.
54% of carers said that being in hospital had a detrimental effect on the symptoms of dementia and 47% said that patients’ health was negatively affected by their hospital stay.
A huge proportion of nurses will at some point care for a patient with dementia, but most do not feel able to properly care for these patients.
In our general election manifesto, the RCN has been bold in making improved care for people with long-term conditions one of our key priorities. We are calling on all political parties to guarantee that anyone suffering from an illness like dementia gets the specialist nursing care they require. Patients suffering from dementia should be cared for by experts who know how best to look after their patients and who understand what treatments are needed. Numerous reports have shown that patients who recieve this level of care have fewer complications and rarely need to be readmitted on a regular basis.
Dementia is an illness which touches almost everyone. The ticking time-bomb of an ageing population and increased demands on the health service means that now is the time to invest in better training for all nurses if every patient is to be given the quality of care they deserve.
See the report: http://alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/download_info.php?downloadID=356
The report studied the responses of carers, nurses and ward managers. The results are clear - patients with dementia stay in hospital for longer periods of time, which in turn has a detrimental effect not only on their general health, but also on their dementia.
54% of carers said that being in hospital had a detrimental effect on the symptoms of dementia and 47% said that patients’ health was negatively affected by their hospital stay.
A huge proportion of nurses will at some point care for a patient with dementia, but most do not feel able to properly care for these patients.
In our general election manifesto, the RCN has been bold in making improved care for people with long-term conditions one of our key priorities. We are calling on all political parties to guarantee that anyone suffering from an illness like dementia gets the specialist nursing care they require. Patients suffering from dementia should be cared for by experts who know how best to look after their patients and who understand what treatments are needed. Numerous reports have shown that patients who recieve this level of care have fewer complications and rarely need to be readmitted on a regular basis.
Dementia is an illness which touches almost everyone. The ticking time-bomb of an ageing population and increased demands on the health service means that now is the time to invest in better training for all nurses if every patient is to be given the quality of care they deserve.
See the report: http://alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/download_info.php?downloadID=356
Wednesday, 11 November 2009
The future of nursing...
This week I had the real pleasure of launching the RCN Student Bus. The bus will travel across the UK from university to university promoting nursing as a career and giving advice to those already focused on our profession.
The UK’s nursing students deserve all the support and assistance we can give, not least because 200,000 nurses are due to retire in the next decade.
No one denies the difficult balance between the huge cost of studying and the amount of work required. It’s no surprise that a quarter of student nurses drop out of their studies because of financial worries.
Despite all the challenges, nursing is one of the most rewarding careers on the planet; a job in which a person has to use their heart as well as their head.
No other career offers the sheer possibility and potential, the huge range of specialisms and the very special feeling that you have made a real difference.
It’s clear from the work the RCN has been undertaking and conversations that I’ve had with students that we need to properly support those seeking to become nurses.
In England, the bursary system is wholly inadequate and often means students have to get second jobs, which directly impacts how much time they can spend studying. The RCN has consistently called for a liveable, non means tested bursary of £12,000 for every nursing student so that they can get the support they deserve.
As our population gets older and healthcare demands increase, we will need more and more nurses. Any government wishing to improve the healthcare provisions of the future must look at the problems faced today.
At the launch of the bus I met a number of dynamic, hopeful and energetic people hoping to become the UK’s next generation of nurses. We need to be as keen to help them as they are to help patients.
You can follow the RCN Student Bus on Twitter @RCNStudentBus. If you see it on the road, tell us – there are prizes to be won…
The UK’s nursing students deserve all the support and assistance we can give, not least because 200,000 nurses are due to retire in the next decade.
No one denies the difficult balance between the huge cost of studying and the amount of work required. It’s no surprise that a quarter of student nurses drop out of their studies because of financial worries.
Despite all the challenges, nursing is one of the most rewarding careers on the planet; a job in which a person has to use their heart as well as their head.
No other career offers the sheer possibility and potential, the huge range of specialisms and the very special feeling that you have made a real difference.
It’s clear from the work the RCN has been undertaking and conversations that I’ve had with students that we need to properly support those seeking to become nurses.
In England, the bursary system is wholly inadequate and often means students have to get second jobs, which directly impacts how much time they can spend studying. The RCN has consistently called for a liveable, non means tested bursary of £12,000 for every nursing student so that they can get the support they deserve.
As our population gets older and healthcare demands increase, we will need more and more nurses. Any government wishing to improve the healthcare provisions of the future must look at the problems faced today.
At the launch of the bus I met a number of dynamic, hopeful and energetic people hoping to become the UK’s next generation of nurses. We need to be as keen to help them as they are to help patients.
You can follow the RCN Student Bus on Twitter @RCNStudentBus. If you see it on the road, tell us – there are prizes to be won…
Monday, 2 November 2009
The Swine Flu vaccine
On Monday, I visited the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London to receive the swine flu vaccination. I cannot emphasise enough that the vaccine is safe and has been thoroughly tested. Unlike other flu jabs, the virus is ‘inactivate’ so there is no risk of getting flu from the vaccine.
The pandemic has already affected thousands across the UK and as winter temperatures set in, these numbers will undoubtedly go up. Many of us could be affected by the virus and not simply by becoming ill ourselves, but by seeing family members and friends trying cope with the symptoms.
For healthcare staff, I believe that it’s particularly important that they take up the vaccine. Staff run the risk of coming in contact with the virus or of passing it on to patients. So, for the benefit of both professionals and patients, it’s crucial that our workforce is fighting fit to deal with whatever lies ahead.
I’ve been shocked to hear healthcare workers tell me that they will consider the vaccination programme successful if just half the supplies get used. Whilst getting the vaccine is of course a matter of personal choice, I urge people to weigh up the very real benefits. Now is the time for preparation and action by health staff for patients.
Our health service is all about striving for the best for patients and I know that health workers are dedicated to giving their all for vulnerable patients. The nursing profession is about care, protection and dignity; to offer this we need a ready and robust workforce.
The pandemic has already affected thousands across the UK and as winter temperatures set in, these numbers will undoubtedly go up. Many of us could be affected by the virus and not simply by becoming ill ourselves, but by seeing family members and friends trying cope with the symptoms.
For healthcare staff, I believe that it’s particularly important that they take up the vaccine. Staff run the risk of coming in contact with the virus or of passing it on to patients. So, for the benefit of both professionals and patients, it’s crucial that our workforce is fighting fit to deal with whatever lies ahead.
I’ve been shocked to hear healthcare workers tell me that they will consider the vaccination programme successful if just half the supplies get used. Whilst getting the vaccine is of course a matter of personal choice, I urge people to weigh up the very real benefits. Now is the time for preparation and action by health staff for patients.
Our health service is all about striving for the best for patients and I know that health workers are dedicated to giving their all for vulnerable patients. The nursing profession is about care, protection and dignity; to offer this we need a ready and robust workforce.
Monday, 19 October 2009
Raising concerns, raising standards...
On Monday we learnt that struck off nurse Margaret Haywood would have her punishment reduced to a one year caution and she is therefore now allowed to return to work.
Margaret had helped in the undercover filming of a Panorama documentary to expose shocking standards of patient care. She was struck off by the NMC in April for breaching patient confidentiality. Whilst we believe that patient confidentiality is exceptionally important, so too is the ability to speak out against poor care, free from fear of retribution.
Margaret was a dedicated nurse with an unblemished career who simply wanted to get back to nursing, so we were very happy with the result.
In May this year we launched its ‘Raising Concerns, Raising Standards’ hotline (0345 7726 300) which gives RCN members the opportunity to register patient safety concerns after following the normal internal procedures. The hotline is confidential and will protect our members who call and make sure the appropriate action is then taken.
This is undoubtedly a good start and I’m proud that the RCN has taken the lead on this hugely important issue, however – more needs to be done.
Over the weeks and months before the next General Election, the RCN will be calling on all political parties to protect those who speak out about patient safety. We believe that all healthcare organisations should be required to hold a register of staff concerns that must be reported to their Board regularly and made available to the public.
If we’re going to protect those who seek to improve patient care we need a united approach that helps all healthcare workers, not just RCN members.
Margaret had helped in the undercover filming of a Panorama documentary to expose shocking standards of patient care. She was struck off by the NMC in April for breaching patient confidentiality. Whilst we believe that patient confidentiality is exceptionally important, so too is the ability to speak out against poor care, free from fear of retribution.
Margaret was a dedicated nurse with an unblemished career who simply wanted to get back to nursing, so we were very happy with the result.
In May this year we launched its ‘Raising Concerns, Raising Standards’ hotline (0345 7726 300) which gives RCN members the opportunity to register patient safety concerns after following the normal internal procedures. The hotline is confidential and will protect our members who call and make sure the appropriate action is then taken.
This is undoubtedly a good start and I’m proud that the RCN has taken the lead on this hugely important issue, however – more needs to be done.
Over the weeks and months before the next General Election, the RCN will be calling on all political parties to protect those who speak out about patient safety. We believe that all healthcare organisations should be required to hold a register of staff concerns that must be reported to their Board regularly and made available to the public.
If we’re going to protect those who seek to improve patient care we need a united approach that helps all healthcare workers, not just RCN members.
Thursday, 8 October 2009
Care before cuts...
This is a comment piece that appeared in the Guardian this week...
Earlier this year, the RCN undertook a Freedom of Information request that revealed the NHS spends at least £350 million a year on management consultants; a figure that we suspect could be much higher.
If anything pointed out the waste and inefficiencies that could be cut from an NHS budget, this was surely it.
Of the huge figure spent on these consultants, 78% (or £273 million) was spent on projects that did not directly affect patient care. These include re-branding trusts, changing logos or re-naming organisations to make them more attractive to potential patients.
The RCN has nothing against management consultants, but when one considers that the money spent on them could pay for 330 fully staffed medical wards, one has to question the virtue of this expenditure.
If the NHS is to look to ways to reduce spending, which in today’s climate appears inevitable, then we must look at costs like these. What we mustn’t do is wield the axe towards our front line services and the areas that comfort, cure and care for patients.
One can only imagine how demoralising all this must be for our nurses, doctors and others; to see such vast sums spent on consultancy when they fear their own services may face cut backs and budget reductions.
Cuts to our front line would see waiting lists soar, standards plummet and a quality of care that no patient deserves. Efficiencies can be made, but they must be made intelligently and to areas of spending that don’t impact on the dignified and quality care that all patients deserve.
Earlier this year, the RCN undertook a Freedom of Information request that revealed the NHS spends at least £350 million a year on management consultants; a figure that we suspect could be much higher.
If anything pointed out the waste and inefficiencies that could be cut from an NHS budget, this was surely it.
Of the huge figure spent on these consultants, 78% (or £273 million) was spent on projects that did not directly affect patient care. These include re-branding trusts, changing logos or re-naming organisations to make them more attractive to potential patients.
The RCN has nothing against management consultants, but when one considers that the money spent on them could pay for 330 fully staffed medical wards, one has to question the virtue of this expenditure.
If the NHS is to look to ways to reduce spending, which in today’s climate appears inevitable, then we must look at costs like these. What we mustn’t do is wield the axe towards our front line services and the areas that comfort, cure and care for patients.
One can only imagine how demoralising all this must be for our nurses, doctors and others; to see such vast sums spent on consultancy when they fear their own services may face cut backs and budget reductions.
Cuts to our front line would see waiting lists soar, standards plummet and a quality of care that no patient deserves. Efficiencies can be made, but they must be made intelligently and to areas of spending that don’t impact on the dignified and quality care that all patients deserve.
Thursday, 1 October 2009
The next step...
Having recently departed from the Labour party conference, one issue in particular stayed with me. Both the Prime Minister and Andy Burnham, the Secretary of State for Health, made mention of the Social Care Green Paper; one of the most important pieces of work being undertaken right now.
Last year we celebrated the 60th birthday of our national health service and now we must turn our attention to ensuring an equally fair and available social care service.
The current framework for adult social care is now widely recognised as confusing and outdated. Patients often find themselves on a ‘revolving door’ between health and social care – the current system needs a radical overhaul.
The Government admits the status quo isn’t good enough. This status quo ranges from more money being taken from those who have saved to a postcode lottery for quality care.
A far greater percentage of the population are now cared for in their own homes, which can only be a positive move. However, many care services in the community remain fragmented. Moving the care of vulnerable people into local areas will require significant investment in community nursing services, along with community matrons, district nurses and specialist nurses.
What’s more, effective preventative measures can have significant long-term gains; such as investing to prevent falls, which can mean people not having to experience an unplanned admission into hospital or into residential care.
There is much to discuss and your involvement is crucial. ‘Big Care Debates’ are being held up and down the Country so please go to the event being held near you - http://careandsupport.direct.gov.uk/
The RCN is looking in detail at the Government’s green paper consultation that closes in early November and as usual will help shape the crucial health decisions that will follow. Members have till the end of October to contribute to our consultation, find out more on the RCN website (www.rcn.org.uk).
Please do contact the RCN to share views with us at policycontacts@rcn.org.uk
Last year we celebrated the 60th birthday of our national health service and now we must turn our attention to ensuring an equally fair and available social care service.
The current framework for adult social care is now widely recognised as confusing and outdated. Patients often find themselves on a ‘revolving door’ between health and social care – the current system needs a radical overhaul.
The Government admits the status quo isn’t good enough. This status quo ranges from more money being taken from those who have saved to a postcode lottery for quality care.
A far greater percentage of the population are now cared for in their own homes, which can only be a positive move. However, many care services in the community remain fragmented. Moving the care of vulnerable people into local areas will require significant investment in community nursing services, along with community matrons, district nurses and specialist nurses.
What’s more, effective preventative measures can have significant long-term gains; such as investing to prevent falls, which can mean people not having to experience an unplanned admission into hospital or into residential care.
There is much to discuss and your involvement is crucial. ‘Big Care Debates’ are being held up and down the Country so please go to the event being held near you - http://careandsupport.direct.gov.uk/
The RCN is looking in detail at the Government’s green paper consultation that closes in early November and as usual will help shape the crucial health decisions that will follow. Members have till the end of October to contribute to our consultation, find out more on the RCN website (www.rcn.org.uk).
Please do contact the RCN to share views with us at policycontacts@rcn.org.uk
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
