Letter from the Editor: Keeping standards high in tough times

Published: 16 February 2010

Richard Brownhill wishes all a happy New Year and looks forward to exciting challenges ahead in 2010.

We are adaptable people, coping in very challenging circumstances. What's more, we go in again to work the next day and do it all over again... why? Because that's what many of us enjoy, although I am sure many of you would say things seem particularly hard at times.

In spite of this, emergency and urgent care work just keeps developing and diversifying. There are many private as well as NHS providers of care and along with many nurses working in very different ways, there is a continued need to ensure safe, high standards for all our patients, even against a potentially tough few years financially.

Speak up...

I see many media articles, organisations and news stories criticising care. I am sure we would agree with some of the things that are said, particularly as some of the details can be shocking, as we heard at our conference this year. Many of the difficulties we face are circumstantial and we may think are beyond our control – we have to change this and communicate with the senior decision-makers in our organisations, locally, regionally and nationally. The ECA would be really keen to hear about any concerns about your working environments and anything we can help you with. We are here to listen to and represent your views.

New features and new member...

With this in mind, this newsletter heralds the beginning of some regular features that aim to get you involved, including a creative idea feature where great tips can be shared amongst other colleagues, the quick-ten quiz for a bit of brain exercise, and lots of links to recent activities and relevant documents for those in emergency care.

In committee news, we would also like to warmly welcome the arrival of Andrew Frazer as a newly elected committee member. Andrew is a nurse consultant based at Newham Hospital in London and he will add another valuable dimension to the team. 

Let someone know

Still pressured by the four-hour target? A recent conversation I was told about included a member of staff saying, "Don't put it down as a breach for my speciality..."! I still can't work out why we should give in to the idea of blame. Responsibility for this target is a systems-wide organisational one, not one of individuals (even if it feels that way). Being "creative with figures" can lead you to falsify patient records, a very serious offence in the eyes of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). Communicate with the senior people in the organisation – if they have been told, you are no longer the scapegoat. Our care is about quality for patients.

Extending our reach

We have a real wealth of expertise amongst all ECA members. Please continue to spread the word to others and encourage them to become members of the largest group of emergency nurses nationally – it really does count when we have the potential to use our influence politically, given the current climate. RCN members can join the forum for free by visiting MyRCN or by phoning RCN Direct on 0345 772 6100.

At present, we have 11 link members and thank them for their support in helping us to deliver to the membership at large. If you are interested in link membership, please see the relevant "link" (no repetition intended) on the website.

We are hoping to encourage both the contribution from, and the distribution to, minor injuries units, urgent care centres, medical admissions units, surgical assessment units, walk-in centres, out-of-hours services, and others, so please canvas these people for membership as well as contributions.

Many thanks.