Empowering ward sisters project

The Empowering ward sisters/charge nurses report has now been launched you can read the report and download more information on the CNO section of the Welsh Assembly Government website

RCN Wales influences for action

Edwina Hart, Minister for Health and Social Services, plans to expand the role of hospital sisters/charge nurses, giving them more power to improve ward cleanliness, standards of care and protect patients’ meal times.  A Task and Finish Group is drawing up proposals for action.

The initiative arises from representations made to the Minister by the Royal College of Nursing and other staff and professional leaders in Wales. There is ample evidence, from research and from hospital visitors and family members, that cleanliness and nutrition have direct implications for wider matters of patient recovery, length of stay and delayed transfer of care.

Real engagement from those who know best

The Task and Finish Group is drawn largely from staff groups directly engaged in these issues at ward level. The Group will look at ways of giving sisters/charge nurses more responsibility and the leadership and management skills needed to manage wards effectively.

The Group will also look at whether sisters/charge nurses should have the authority to restrict visiting times to ensure patients have enough time to rest and eat their meals.

It will also explore whether on-site changing facilities should be re-introduced in hospitals and if nurses should have a new nationally-recognised uniform.  The uniform is symbolic of the individual and the organisation. The Minister wants to ensure that anyone entering hospitals in Wales knows immediately who is a nurse and who is “in charge.”

The membership of the Task and Finish Group includes representatives from:

  • Nursing Division, Department for Public Health and Health Professions, Welsh Assembly Government
  • Capital  Planning and Estates Division, Department for Health and Social Services, Welsh Assembly Government
  • Regional Nursing Officers, Welsh Assembly Government;
  • Community Health Councils
  • Royal College of Nursing
  • Royal College of Midwives
  • Unison
  • Welsh Nursing and Midwifery Committee
  • Nurse Executive Wales
  • Cyngor which represents academia and education providers.

What can we expect from the Task and Finish Group

The Task and Finish Group will explore and make recommendations on:

  • ways in which ward sisters can be empowered to take full control of their ward environment
  • patient nutrition
  • visiting times
  • ward cleaning
  • a new national uniform for nurses.

The Ministerial Task and Finish Group has now made its recommendations and a response from Edwina Hart AM is anticipated in early summer 2008.