RCN Northern region - news archive

February 2012

• Northumberland County Council to lend NHS trust £100m to end PFI contracts (27 February 2012)
  The Journal reports that Northumberland County Council has proposed to give a 25-year £100m loan to Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, to buy itself out of PFI contracts for work on Hexham Hospital and Ashington’s Wansbeck General.
• Union dismay over transfer of service (22 February 2012)
  The Northern Echo reports that drug and alcohol misuse services in Darlington are to be taken away from the NHS and transferred to North East charity NECA.
• What do the NHS reforms mean for us? (22 February 2012)
  The Northern Echo features an article, which explains the effect the Health Bill could have on NHS services.
• PM vows to push on with NHS reforms (20 February 2012)
  The Journal reports that David Cameron held a summit on health care reforms without inviting Royal Colleges and trade unions critical of the Bill, including the RCN.
• RVI denies David Cameron anger claims (20 February 2012)
  The Journal reports that rumours of angry scenes when the Prime Minister visited the RVI last week have been denied by the hospital.
• Hygiene fears over new North East hospital scanners (13 February 2012)
  The Journal reports that electronic hand scanners, which allow hospital staff to verify their identity, have raised concerns over hygiene.
• Cumbrian hospitals trust pays ex-boss £19,000 a month (17 February 2012)
  The News & Star reports that Carole Heatly, former chief executive of North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust, is still receiving £19,000 a month despite leaving the Trust last June.
• Cameron urged to drop NHS reforms (11 February 2012)
  The Journal reports on the growing opposition to the Health and Social Care Bill.
• Jobs not at risk in merger plan, say Tees health chiefs (3 February 2012)
  The Evening Gazette reports that South Tees Trust management have said there will be jobs for all staff affected by the proposal to merge the Friarage Hospital's CCU with the MAU.
• Nurses jobs at risk in new shake-up plan at Friarage Hospital, Northallerton (3 February 2012)
  The Northern Echo reports that proposals to merge the Friarage Hospital’s coronary care unit and medical admissions unit would lead to the loss of seven posts – two ward managers and five band-six nurses.
• Calls to rally protest over Northallerton hospital changes (1 February 2012)
  The Northern Echo reports that the Friarage Hospital is considering changes to its medical admissions unit in addition to plans to downgrade the hospital’s inpatient paediatric and maternity unit.

January 2012

• Calls to rally protest over Northallerton hospital changes (1 February 2012)
  The Northern Echo reports that the Friarage Hospital is considering changes to its medical admissions unit in addition to plans to downgrade the hospital’s inpatient paediatric and maternity unit.
• New 111 number is to create 140 jobs (28 January 2012)
  The Journal reports that North East Ambulance Service secured a £45m contract to handle non-emergency medical calls, creating 140 jobs for the region.
• Mum’s worry over maternity service changes (25 January 2012)
  The Evening Gazette features a piece on Middlesbrough mum Debbie Wright, who has hit out at plans to downgrade the maternity and children’s services at the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton.
• Campaigners brand hospital proposals ‘unacceptable’ (25 January 2012)
  The Northern Echo reports that the National Clinical Advisory Team (NCAT) published a report concluding that the Friarage Hospital’s inpatient paediatric service should be converted to an outpatients-only service.
• Nursing Update with Estephanie Dunn (23 January 2012)
  The Evening Chronicle features a column written by Acting Regional Director, Estephanie Dunn, about the reasons the Royal College of Nursing is opposing the Health and Social Care Bill.
• NHS reforms branded a ‘distraction’ (22 January 2012)
  The Journal reports that health unions, including the Royal College of Nursing, have said the Government's controversial NHS reforms are a ‘distraction’ from confronting the £20 billion budget savings and long-term care for the elderly.
• Unions want public debate on North Cumbria Hospitals (19 January 2012)
  The News and Star reports that health unions have invited interim chief executive Neil Goodwin to debate concerns about north Cumbria’s hospitals at a public forum.
• North Cumbria NHS trust 'squandered money' (18 January 2012)
  BBC News Cumbria reports that a joint statement concerning cuts and patient safety at North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust, has been made by Trust staff.
• £38,000 hospital staff trip to Sweden criticised (18 January 2012)
  The Northern Echo reports that the County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust spent nearly £40,000 on a staff trip to Sweden, despite 700 planned job losses in the trust.
• A pilot scheme for end-of-life support in the comforts of home (18 January 2012)
  The Guardian reports on a scheme on South Tyneside to help terminally ill social housing tenants die with dignity. 

December 2011

• Only five days until Darlington hospital stroke unit closure (14 December 2011)
  The Northern Echo reports on the closure of Darlington Memorial Hospital's stroke unit.
• Crisis hospitals losing £1.2m a month again (13 December 2011)
  The News & Star reports on the financial problems facing North Cumbria University Hospitals Trust.
• Emergencies drop for docs (12 December 2011)
  The News & Star reports that emergency admissions have fallen in north Cumbria.
• Nurses' leader slams Osborne (10 December 2011)
  The Sunderland Echo reports on Acting Regional Director Estephanie Dunn's response to the Chancellor's push for local pay negotiations.
• NHS move fails to ease pensions row (8 December 2011)
  The Evening Chronicle reports that the public sector pensions dispute remains deadlocked despite the Government's offer to improve arrangements for half a million NHS workers.
• NHS whistleblowers' concerns ignored (5 December 2011)
  The Sunderland Echo reports that an RCN survey has shown almost half of whistleblowers' care concerns are ignored.
• No action taken on North East nurses' concerns (5 December 2011)
  The Journal reports on the RCN's whistleblowing survey.
• Nurses 'discouraged' from raising patient safety concerns (5 December 2011)
  The Northern Echo reports on the RCN's whistleblowing survey.
• Government could write off Cumberland Infirmary's debt, says minister (2 December 2011)
  The News & Star reports that Health Secretary Andrew Lansley has said he will consider writing off Cumberland Infirmary's debt.
• North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust is praised (2 December 2011)
  The Evening Gazette reports that the Trust was praised in the latest Dr Foster report.
• Unions warning of new Winter of Discontent (1 December 2011)
  The Evening Chronicle reports that unions have said another Winter of Discontent could be on the way, after strikes brought the region to a standstill.
• A river of protestors flowed across the Tyne (1 December 2011)
  The Evening Chronicle reports that 8,500 public sector workers marched from Gateshead to Newcastle in protest over pension changes.
• Public sector strikes see 8,500 march through Gateshead and Newcastle (1 December 2011)
  The Journal reports on the pensions strike march from Gateshead to Newcastle.

November 2011

• Public sector strikes: my view (30 November 2011)
  The Northern Echo speaks to workers from different areas of the public sector about strike action.
• Public sector strikes: the impact on schools and services (30 November 2011)
  The Northern Echo looks at the impact of strike action around the region.
• Nursing staff join public sector strikes over pensions row (30 November 2011)
  The Journal reports that RCN members are not on strike, but support the Day of Action.
• Public sector staff face pay cuts after Chancellor's announcement (30 November 2011)
  The Journal reports that the Chancellor has announced plans to cap public sector wage rises to 1% when the current pay freeze ends.
• Striking Sunderland hospital workers' argument 'not with our employer, it's with the Government' (30 November 2011)
  The Sunderland Echo reports on local nursing staff who are supportive of the strike action.
• Hospital night staffing levels worst in UK (30 November 2011)
  The Shields Gazette reports that according to the latest Dr Foster Hospital Guide, South Tyneside District Hospital has the worst overnight nursing levels for elderly patients in England.
• Royal College of Nursing Northern region labels 'de facto pay cut' provocative (29 November 2011)
  The Cumbria Crack News reports that Regional Director, Glenn Turp, has slammed the Chancellor's 1% pay cap for public sector workers.
• Union raises fears over hospital staff levels in North Cumbria (29 November 2011)
  The News & Star reports that the RCN Northern region has raised concerns about staffing levels at the North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust.
• How pensions anger found its public voice (28 November 2011)
  The News & Star reports on the forthcoming public sector strike action.
• 'Higher than expected' mortality rates at North and West Cumbria hospitals (28 November 2011)
  The News & Star reports that the Dr Foster report shows Carlisle’s Cumberland Infirmary and the West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven have a higher-than-expected ratio of in-hospital deaths.
• How the public sector strikes will affect you (26 November 2011)
  The Evening Chronicle reports on the forthcoming public sector strikes.
• Doctors' 160 mile run in opposition to health reforms (24 November 2011)
  The Northern Echo reports that two North East consultants have pledged to run 160 miles to rally opposition to controversial Government health reforms.
• Trust chiefs slammed over changes to care (22 November 2011)
  The Northern Echo reports that the RCN Northern region has expressed concerns at potential changes to the Friarage Hospital's critical care and orthopaedic services.
• Nursing leaders warn of 'crisis' (20 November 2011)
  The Journal reports that data from the RCN has found over 56,000 jobs have been axed or face the cut across the UK.
• £40m health cuts challenge (19 November 2011)
  The Hartlepool Mail reports that the North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust needs to save £40m over the next three years from its £260m budget.
• Concern for the safety of healthcare workers (18 November 2011)
  The Evening Gazette reports that more than 2,000 healthcare workers on Teesside were the victims of assault at work last year.
• Will hospitals takeover solve the cash crisis? (18 November 2011)
  The News & Star considers whether takeover by another NHS trust will solve the financial problems of North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust.
• New hospital is 'answer to the problem' (18 November 2011)
  The Hartlepool Mail reports on the proposed £300m Wynyard Hospital site.
• Cumbria hospitals health boss hits back at safety claim (15 November 2011)
  BBC News Cumbria reports that interim Chief Executive Neil Goodwin has rebuked claims that North Cumbria Hospitals Trust is putting patient safety at risk.
• Nursing boss: Hospital cuts in Cumbria will hit services (14 November 2011)
  The News & Star reports that RCN Regional Director, Glenn Turp, has urged North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust to be 'open, honest and transparent' about how proposals to save cash would affect patient care.
• Concern over Sunderland NHS attacks (13 November 2011)
  The Sunderland Echo reports that there were 85 assaults against Sunderland Royal Hospital staff in 2010/11.
• Shock rise in NHS attacks (13 November 2011)
  The Hartlepool Mail reports that assaults on NHS staff have increased by 75% in the last 12 months.
• Cash crisis at Cumbrian hospitals 'Could have been averted' (12 November 2011)
  The News & Star reports that urgent measures, including ward closures and staff cuts, are being looked at as the Trust tries to tackle a 'financial crisis'.
• Nursing Update with Glenn Turp (7 November 2011)
  Regional Director, Glenn Turp, writes about the 30th November Day of Action, in his column for the Evening Chronicle.
• Ban on nurses' leave on day of action 'draconian' (4 November 2011)
  The Northern Echo reports some hospital trusts across the region are banning all annual leave on the Day of Action.
• Hospital in holiday ban row (4 November 2011)
  The Shields Gazette reports that nursing staff in South Tyneside have had their holidays put on hold as public sector workers prepare for a strike.
• Cuts lead to health scrutiny chief sharing fears for patient care (4 November 2011)
  The Evening Gazette reports that three Teesside hospital trusts must make cuts of £134m in the next three years.
• Teesside hospitals must save £134m over three years (2 November 2011)
  The Evening Gazette reports on the Teesside hospital cuts.
• Cuts to Teesside hospitals - but PFI move is on (2 November 2011)
  The Evening Gazette reports that plans for a new £299m hospital, which could cost £660m over 30 years under a private finance plan, are pressing ahead against the backdrop of cuts to its operating trust.
• Questions raised over Assura Stockton's chlamydia screening process (1 November 2011)
  The Evening Gazette reports that private healthcare company Assura requested staff to take home chlamydia screening packs for friends and family.

October 2011

• Health union quizzes nurses on staff shortages (27 October 2011)
  The Whitehaven News reports that the RCN Northern region is conducting an audit of staff concerns at the North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust.
• Union worries over NHS contract (22 October 2011)
  The Darlington & Stockton Times reports that some North East GP commissioners have links to private companies bidding to provide NHS services.
• Nurses sick of falling staffing levels (14 October 2011)
  The Shields Gazette reports that the RCN Northern region has raised 'serious concerns' about patient care and staffing levels at South Tyneside District Hospital.
• Cutting 126 staff has not hurt Cumbrian hospitals, claim bosses (5 October 2011)
  The News & Star reports that there were 126 fewer members of staff working across Whitehaven’s West Cumberland Hospital and Carlisle’s Cumberland Infirmary in August compared to the same month last year.
• Hospital workers' pay cut is 'cost-cutting, pure and simple' (3 October 2011)
  The Northern Echo reports that the County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust is planning to impose pay cuts on 33 senior health improvement workers.
• Nurses anxious over jobs (2 October 2011)
  Metro North East reports that 15,000 nurses and healthcare assistants expect to be made redundant in the next year, according to a survey by the RCN.