RCN and WellChild stage parliamentary launch of campaign for more CCNs
Over 80 MPs have pledged to support the "Better at Home" campaign in which the RCN has joined with the national charity WellChild to demand more investment in specialist nurses to bridge the gap between hospital and community services.
Dr Peter Carter, RCN Chief Executive & General Secretary, said: "Children can often spend month after month in hospital because there are not enough community children's nurses to care for them at home, even though it's safe to do so. We want children to be cared for at home with their family around them wherever possible.
Mark Whiting, Chair of the RCN Community Children's Nurses Forum, welcomed the campaign, saying: "The Government must invest more in CCNs and back them with the necessary resources so that no child who can be safely discharged home is stuck in hospital."
The RCN recommends that for an average sized district with a child population of 50,000 a minimum of 20 WTE CCNs are required to provide a holistic community children's nursing service in addition to any child specific continuing care investment.
Download the RCN position statements on the campain from our resources page.