Staff focus updates - 7 February 2013
New policy, guidance and initiatives from across the UK which focus on staff issues and professional development. For more information about this theme see Quality and Safety e-Bulletin: staff focus.
Some of the resources linked to are in PDF format - see how to access PDF files.
BMC Nursing: A case study of nurse practitioner role implementation in primary care: what happens when new roles are introduced? The purpose of the study was "to explain the process of nurse practitioner role implementation as it was occurring and to identify factors that could enhance the implementation process". The study was undertaken in British Columbia in 2009 at a time when the role of nurse practitioner was being implemented for the first time there.
DH: Sharps and sharps containers transported in staff vehicles alert. This alert is regarding sharps and sharps containers transported in staff vehicles. Exposed or inadequately protected sharps left in healthcare staff vehicles put occupants and service personnel at risk of needle stick injury.
RCN: Safer sharps events to take place in March. The Royal College of Nursing is encouraging members to attend demonstration days designed to raise awareness and understanding of the implementation of the Safer Sharps Directive. As a result of lobbying by various bodies, including the RCN, the EU Directive 2010/32/EU was adopted in May 2010.
DH: Equality information and equality analysis 2013: the department as an employer (PDF 221KB). This report sets out the Department of Health’s approach to using equality data and information to inform policy development, implementation and practice.
General Medical Council (GMC): New guidance for investigating assisted suicide complaints. The guidance deals with complaints against doctors who may have helped patients commit suicide and aims to help the GMC decide if a doctor should face a fitness to practise hearing if they are alleged to have helped a person to die.
NAO: Managing NHS Hospital consultants. The National Audit Office has published a report 'Managing NHS hospital consultants'. The report concludes that the 2003 contract for hospital consultants delivered many expected benefits, but there is room for improvement in how trusts manage their consultants.
NHS Education for Scotland (NES): Dementia Champion Programme: Cohort 4 Recruitment. Recruitment is now underway for Cohort 4 of the Dementia Champions Programme which will commence in April 2013. The Programme has been developed as part of supporting improvements of care of people with dementia in acute general hospitals, a key action from Scotland’s National Dementia Strategy.
NES: Raising the issue of smoking. This e-learning which is aimed at pharmacy staff who may be involved in providing brief advice to help people stop smoking, has been updated.
NHS Wales Informatics Service: New health IT career schemes are a first. Eleven young people aged 17 to 25 will embark on new information and technology career schemes this year, the first of its kind in the Welsh health service. The career placements will be at both apprenticeship and graduate levels, and all the successful candidates will learn more about how technology and information is used in frontline services such as hospitals and GP practices as well as developing their technical skills.
Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC): Changes to the annual registration fee. The annual registration fee rose to £100 from 1 February 2013. All nurses and midwives who are due to renew or retain their annual registration after this date, and all new applications to the register, will be required to pay the new fee.
NMC: NMC Council hears report of improved Fitness to Practise performance. Figures reported to Council at the end of January show the NMC is improving its performance on Fitness to Practise cases. However, NMC Chief Executive Jackie Smith stressed that the NMC needs to maintain improvement and not be complacent.
RCN: RCN signs agreement with Four Seasons. The Royal College of Nursing has signed a joint recognition agreement with Four Seasons, the UK’s leading independent provider of health and social care services. The agreement, also signed by the GMB and Unison, covers more than 500 care homes, hospitals and specialised care centres employing over 30,000 staff caring for more than 20,000 residents. This is the first such voluntary joint agreement between a major independent care provider and the three unions. Under the agreement Four Seasons and its specialist care division, the Huntercombe Group, will recognise the joint unions for negotiation and consultation on a unit-by-unit basis.
RCN: RCN restates support for overseas nurses. The Royal College of Nursing has been made aware of concerns being circulated by email that the RCN is working alongside the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) to prevent foreign nurses from practising in the NHS. The RCN wants to make it clear that this is incorrect and that the RCN is doing nothing of the sort. Instead, the RCN has been actively supporting members who have come to the UK from overseas health services in both its everyday work and in activity with parliamentarians.
RCN: NHS pension contributions set to rise. Employee contribution rates for the NHS Pension Scheme will increase from 1 April. This is the second year of the Government- imposed 3.2 per cent average annual increase in contributions. Further contribution rises will be expected next year so that by 2014 the average employee contribution level will be 9.8 per cent.
RCN: Nominate an outstanding member of RCN staff for excellence award. Nominations for the RCN Staff Awards for Excellence are now open. There are various award categories, crediting both team and individual performance, but nominations for the Members’ Award for Outstanding Customer Service come exclusively from members. Nominations for the Members’ Award need to be submitted via an online form by 5pm on 15 March.