Caring is at the heart of nursing. No matter how sophisticated the equipment or treatment or how technically proficient or intellectually challenging the practise - without caring it is not nursing.
In September 2012 RCN Wales launched the second year of its Time to Care campaign. This campaign emphasises that nursing staff need to be given time to perform their role to their highest caring ability. It emphasises the experience of care that patients and the public expect and the significance, diversity and essential nature of the nursing contribution to caring of nursing.
The Welsh Government has set a clear and challenging direction for the NHS emphasising a move to community services alongside workforce redesign. At the same time the financial resources available to the NHS in Wales have shrunk and the Health Boards have responded by announcing radical service changes. Our members also know very well the pressure on budgets at this time and fear this pressure will grow stronger. However the evidence is clear; there can be no substitute for the care of a registered nurse or qualified health care support worker. Investing in the best care produces the best outcome and experience for the patient and it is also the most cost-effective use of public money. Providing shabby, undignified or unsafe care is not acceptable and will not be accepted by our members or the public.
Please download our policy briefings which set out the key actions that we are asking the Welsh Government to put into place to improve patient care.
Policy Briefing 2011 (361KB) contains 'Community Care', 'Dignity in Care', 'Nursing Innovation and Improvement', 'Public Health Care', 'Quality of Care' and 'Safe Care'.
Policy Briefing 2012 (430KB) contains 'Continuous Professional Development', 'Safeguarding Adults', 'Learning Disability', 'the Language of Caring' and 'Voices from the Frontline'.
You can also download our Time to Care magazine.
Issue 2011 - English language version (1.77MB) or Welsh language version (1.77MB).
Issue 2012 - English Language Version (750KB) or Welsh Language Version (751KB).
In this magazine we celebrate nurses from across Wales who have brought innovation into nursing practice and made a positive difference to patient care.