http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alertLatest health news update from the Royal College of Nursingwebteam@rcn.org.ukNews30http://www.rcn.org.uk/images/rss/RCN_.gif http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alerthttp://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/may_2013/saturday_18-monday_20_mayThe Daily Mail reports that fifty hospital beds have been axed every week since the last election - pushing overstretched accident and emergency wards ever closer to breaking point. Since May 2010, the number of general and acute beds available overnight on hospital wards has fallen by more than 6,500. Dr Peter Carter is quoted as saying: “Removing beds from acute services will only store up problems for the future unless there is investment in community services. Without this investment, patients will inevitably end up in A&E departments and hospitals for treatment they could be receiving in the community, placing further pressure on the system”.2013-05-20http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/may/friday_17_mayHealth Secretary Jeremy Hunt will today unveil plans for a £260m system for electronically prescribing drugs in a first step towards a totally digital NHS by 2018. The fund will at first be used for electronic prescriptions in hospitals before being rolled out to GPs. Mr Hunt said the electronic system will improve patient safety by reducing prescription mistakes and making medical information about patients more readily available to medical staff.2013-05-17http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/may_2013/thursday_16_mayThe Guardian contains an article looking at how frontline staff should embrace a paperless NHS. The article cites recent figures released by the RCN which suggest that on average British nurses spend 17.3% of their time on paperwork and clerical tasks instead of caring for patients. This rounds-up to 2.5 million hours a week.2013-05-16http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/may_2013/wednesday_15_mayOne in five accident and emergency units relies entirely on junior doctors at evenings and weekends, according to a report by the College of Emergency Medicine. The study of more than 130 casualty units said that NHS departments were struggling to provide safe care, with doctors working in "intolerable" environments that place patients at risk. In some cases, gaps at evenings and weekends were filled by "middle-grade" doctors, those who have finished basic training but are still learning specialist skills and have yet to qualify as a consultant. However, at one in five A&E units, junior doctors fresh from medical school were the most senior staff working at evenings and weekends. The Foundation Trust Network also warned that casualty units are close to collapse within a year. The Foundation Trust Network (FTN) criticised the funding system in England which penalises A&E units that oversee a rise in patients.2013-05-15http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/may_2013/tuesday_14_mayThe Daily Mail reports that Robert Francis told the Nursing Times and Health Service Journal in an interview that he was concerned the nursing profession was failing to make urgent improvements following the Mid Staffordshire scandal. Mr Francis led the inquiry into the Mid Staffordshire care failings and made 290 recommendations for the health service on how to improve care.2013-05-14http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/may_2013/saturday_11-monday_13_mayHospital staffing levels ‘unsafe’ Senior nurses have issued an "unprecedented warning" about hospital ward staffing levels in England. The Safe Staffing Alliance, which includes the Royal College of Nursing and Unison, says wards regularly have one registered nurse caring for eight patients - which they say is unsafe. The warning comes in the wake of a study by Southampton University that found hospitals with more than eight patients per registered nurse would see about 20 more deaths a year than better staffed hospitals. The story was reported in BBC News Online, The Independent, The Daily Mail, The Sun, The Guardian, The Daily Telegraph and The Daily Mirror. Howard Catton, Head of Policy was interviewed by BBC News Channel.2013-05-13http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/may_2013/thursday_09_mayLevels of demand on NHS accident and emergency departments in England have been described as unsustainable by the head of the health service regulator. Care Quality Commission Chairman David Prior said there was no guarantee that another disaster like that at Stafford Hospital could not happen in future. Mr Prior's comments came at a conference hosted by health think tank the King's Fund. Dr Peter Carter was interviewed this morning by BBC News agreeing with Mr Prior’s comments that the system is under huge strain.2013-05-09http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/may_2013/wednesday_08_mayThe BBC reports more than £12.5m was spent on agency doctors and nurses in Hereford and Worcester in 2012, according to figures obtained through a Freedom of Information request to both trusts. Figures show the bill for agency staff increased by £4m from 2011 to 2012 and included one example of nearly £1,000 being spent on a single shift. The Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust spent £7.7m on agency doctors and £1.9m on agency nurses in 2012. Wye Valley NHS Trust spent £1.3m on agency doctors in the same period and £1.5m on agency nurses. Paul Vaughan, Director of the Royal College of Nursing in the West Midlands said the use of agency staff was necessary to manage peaks in demand, and there had been some "huge and unprecedented" pressures on A&E departments and acute hospital beds over the last winter. He added: "At the end of the day, wards do need to be staffed adequately so patients are safe and well cared-for. But an over-reliance on agency staff is not only expensive to the NHS and the taxpayer - because what the agency nurse is paid is usually far less than the agency receives - it also means it's more difficult to provide continuity of care for patients as the nursing staff are continually changing."2013-05-08http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/may_2013/saturday_4-monday_7_mayThe Daily Telegraph reports that hundreds of thousands of people who care for older relations will be given rights to state support for the first time says Norman Lamb, Care and Support Minister. They are to receive an entitlement to help including respite holidays and training in care techniques. Under laws to be announced in tomorrow's Queen's Speech, councils will have to assess what support carers need to manage their own lives and provide the services deemed necessary. Although financial assistance will be means-tested, advice and guidance will be offered to all.2013-05-07http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/may_2013The Independent reports that a patient nearly bled to death in a private hospital that was severely criticised for putting lives at risk. The 76-bed BMI Mount Alvernia Hospital in Guildford, Surrey had "very serious failings" in patient care, according to a report by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Senior nursing and theatre staff told the watchdog’s inspectors that they had repeatedly warned of risks to patients and attempts to improve care had been blocked by managers. Children's surgery has been suspended. The BBC news online reports that inspectors said they were told by staff that a child was operated on without written parental consent. The guidance on consent issued by both the General Medical Council and the Royal College of Nursing states that only the child and/or the parent may give their consent to a surgical procedure and that this should be in writing.2013-05-03http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/april_2012/saturday_27-monday_29_april/tuesday_30_aprilGeorge Osborne should abandon his promise to protect the NHS, overseas aid and benefits for pensioners to concentrate in tackling the national debt, according to a coalition of think tanks. In their letter to the Telegraph, groups including the Institute of Economic Affairs and the Centre for Policy Studies warn that the coalition is “struggling desperately” to eliminate the budget deficit and “presiding over an extraordinary ballooning of the national debt”. The independent Institute for Fiscal Studies also warned that other public services would suffer more “pain” as a result of the “sub-optimal” approach to reviewing government budgets.2013-04-30http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/april_2012/saturday_27-monday_29_aprilDr Max Pemberton from The Daily Telegraph discusses Royal College of Nursing president Andrea Spyropoulos's criticism of plans to introduce a compulsory year for trainee nurses to work as a health-care assistant on wards. Dr Pemberton says that while he is often critical of Government health care policy, it seems to me that a compulsory year is an inspired idea.2013-04-29http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/april_2012/friday_26_aprilDoctors' leaders have said the Government is promoting an "overly simplistic and inaccurate" picture of the current pressures facing hospital A&E departments. Jeremy Hunt said in a speech to Age UK on Thursday that the pressure on A&E departments was the biggest operational challenge facing the NHS. Mr Hunt said casualty staff had told him poor out-of-hours GP services were part of the problem - as well as a lack of beds for admitting patients. He also said the last Labour Government's decision to allow GPs to opt out of after hours care was "disastrous". The Times quotes Dr Peter Carter as saying: We know of many reasons why pressure is building in A&E culminating in the problems we described this week- stretched and inadequate social care, chaos surrounding NHS 111 and staffing problems are very significant in themselves. Together they are causing a crisis”. Amol Rajan from the Independent says he agrees with Jeremy Hunt that GPs should provide 24-hour care, but persuading family doctors to take back the responsibility will not be easy.2013-04-26http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/april_2012/thursday_25_aprilAllison Pearson from The Daily Telegraph discusses Jeremy Hunt's criticism of nurses. Ms Pearson says that she agrees with the RCN that the Government scheme for nurses to spend a year as health care assistants is “unworkable” and why should nurses shoulder the blame for the Mid Staffordshire care failings.2013-04-25http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/april_2012/tuesday_23_aprilAn RCN survey has found that 24 per cent of nurses have been warned off raising concerns about patient care, with many describing a culture of fear and intimidation. This level of fear persists despite whistle blowing legislation and the issue being highlighted by the Francis Inquiry. 45 per cent of those who had spoken out said their employer took no action. Dr Peter Carter is widely quoted as saying that “many nurses are still experiencing a culture of fear and intimidation if they try to speak out. This is putting patient safety at risk”. Dr Carter pre-recorded an interview for ITV and Janet Davies pre-recorded an interview for BBC Breakfast.2013-04-23http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/april_2012/friday_19_aprilNHS staff are so busy they do not have time to help patients eat and drink, explain treatments or keep proper records, according to a survey by Unison. The survey of 1,500 midwives, nurses and health care assistants also revealed that half fear that care at their hospital is so poor that a Mid-Staffordshire style scandal is either possible or already occurring. Unison is calling ministers to bring in legal minimum staff-to-patient ratios to ensure good quality care and patient safety. The Guardian says the RCN also backs a call for minimum staffing levels. BBC News Online and The Times Online mention that the Royal College of Nursing will be talking about this subject at its annual Congress. Dr Peter Carter is quoted in The Times Online saying: “Nurses know that understaffing presents a very profound threat to patient care. Increasingly, some trusts seem to see cutting staff as a quick fix to their financial problems. We could not be more adamant that such a policy could end in disaster. The RCN Congress next week will see thousands of nurses come together to discuss the big issues affecting patient care. The RCN will be making clear our belief that safe staffing levels must be enshrined in law in order to protect patients from short sighted, financially driven decisions.”2013-04-19http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/april_2012/wednesday_17_aprilOne in four patients says doctors talk in front of them as if they were not there, according to survey by the Care Quality Commission. A survey of more than 60,000 patients treated in NHS hospitals in England found that one in five felt they were not given enough information about their condition and treatment, and one quarter said there was no one they could talk to about their concerns.2013-04-17http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/april_2012/tuesday_16_aprilThe trust which runs Stafford Hospital is to be put into administration by the health regulator Monitor. Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust will be run by two specially appointed administrators to "safeguard the future of health services" currently provided. Dr Hugo Mascie-Taylor and Alan Bloom of Ernst and Young will take over the running of the trust on Tuesday. It will become the first foundation trust to go into administration.2013-04-16http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/april_2012/saturday_13-monday_15_aprilHundreds of thousands more patients are waiting longer than four hours for emergency care across the country according to the latest figures released by the Department of Health. One in every three patients are waiting four hours or more for emergency treatment as A&E departments are struggling due to closures and staff shortages. Dr Peter Carter is quoted in The Star and Mail on Sunday saying: “With fewer nurses and rising demand, emergency departments are now at risk of being overwhelmed”.2013-04-15http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/april_2012/friday_12_aprilThe number of people donating organs after death has risen 50% over the past five years. More than 1,200 people in the UK donated their organs in the last year, leading to about 3,100 transplants. The increase has been largely credited to the network of specialist nurses who approach and support bereaved relatives in hospitals. Despite the rise in donations Britain still has one of the lowest rates in Europe.2013-04-12http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/april_2012/thursday_11_aprilNine out of ten health care assistants want to be regulated in the same way as nurses, according to a survey by the British Journal of Healthcare Assistants. Half of respondents also said they felt that staff shortages threatened patient care. Mandatory regulation of health care assistants was one of the recommendations of the Francis inquiry. Dr Peter Carter was quoted in the Times and BBC News Online saying: “The RCN is deeply concerned that registration has been dismissed in the Government’s response to the Francis inquiry, but surely it must now be a priority for the highest standard of patient care.”2013-04-11http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/april_2012/wednesday_10_aprilThe Daily Mail reports that Sir Bruce Keogh, medical director for NHS England is under pressure to explain why the NHS closed a children's heart surgery unit over safety concerns then re-opened it only ten days later. Paediatric heart surgery was suspended at Leeds General Infirmary on March 28 amid concerns over mortality data that suggested it was double the national average. The hospital has been told it can resume 'lower-risk' operations from today. Leeds North-West MP Greg Mullholland has written to the Secretary of State and asked him to order a full investigation into the closure.2013-04-10http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/april_2012/tuesday_09_aprilChildren’s heart surgery at Leeds General Infirmary will restart tomorrow, NHS England has announced. Operations were halted at the unit last month after concerns were raised over death rates, the quality of surgery and staffing levels. Surgery is to be phased in again slowly over the next month beginning with lower-risk cases.2013-04-09http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/april_2012/saturday_06-monday_08_aprilThe effects of a local crackdown on binge drinking and minimum price law Libby Purves from The Times looks at the town of Ipswich as a case study on the effects of a local crackdown on binge drinking and a minimum price law on alcohol and how this has had a positive effect. Mrs Purves mentions how The RCN, BMA and the Alcohol Health Alliance have repeatedly said that the availability of very cheap and very strong drink is socially disastrous.2013-04-08http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/april_2012/friday_05_aprilNHS nurses are financially better off than those working in private hospitals The Daily Telegraph reports that nurses working in the NHS end their careers £100,000 better off than their private sector peers, according to research presented today at the Royal Economic Society annual conference. Staff working in NHS hospitals get better pensions, longer holidays and shorter working hours than colleagues at private hospitals. The study found that the NHS nurses’ financial advantage over their peers comes later in their careers. The RCN issued a response by Dr Peter Carter saying:"This report rightly identifies that pay alone does not give a full impression of the employment conditions of nurses, and indeed nurses remain the lowest paid profession in the public sector. Nurses have never asked for more than what is fair to reflect the work they do, and the nurse finishing a night shift at a busy A & E is unlikely to feel that they are unjustly rewarded. No nurse enters the profession for the money, but their pay rates do need to be adequate to ensure that enough people enter and remain in the profession." P.122013-04-05http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/april_2012/thursday_04_aprilMore support is to be provided to disadvantaged young mothers in England, ministers have announced. The Family Nurse partnership scheme sees nurses or midwives regularly visit first-time mothers under the age of 20 until their baby is two years old. The support is already being provided to 11,000 families, but will now be extended by 5,000 by 2015. US studies have shown that the partnerships reduce the rates of child abuse, A&E attendances, smoking and criminal offences. Dr Peter Carter is quoted on BBC News Online saying:"We would like to see this investment continued beyond 2015, supported by greater investment in school nursing, community children's nursing and health visiting. This excellent scheme should be part of an integrated system which can work to educate and support families within their local communities."2013-04-04http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/april_2012/wednesday_3_aprilThe NHS has failed for nine consecutive weeks to meet its target of dealing with 95% of A&E patients within four hours, according to data from the Department of Health. In the largest A&Es the national target has not been met since September, while in some hospitals the figure has dipped below 70 per cent. Dr Peter Carter is quoted in The Guardian saying: These figures are yet more proof of a system running at capacity, and patients are suffering as a result. Our members are regularly telling us that pressure on the system is rising while staffing levels fall, and as a result any increase in demand results in unacceptable waits for patients who are already going through a difficult time”2013-04-03http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/march_2013/friday_29_march-_monday_2_aprilThe Daily Express quoted Dr Peter Carter’s reaction to a suggestion by Ann Clwyd, a Labour MP, that the Government should consider scrapping "nursing stations" and bringing staff desks into the middle of wards. Dr Peter Carter said: “Staff could not study notes, and use computers and phones in the middle of the ward. “If you really have nurses leaving people in soiled sheets and bidding on ebay auctions, that kind of attitude is not going to be changed by reconfiguring a ward”.2013-04-02http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/march_2013/thursday_28_marchThe Times reports that a judge has prevented the NHS from closing children's heart surgery unit at Leeds General Infirmary. The ruling comes after an NHS review said that surgery should cease at hospitals in Leeds, Leicester and London to focus on care at fewer, more efficient centres. The RCN issued a response by Dr Peter Carter saying: “The Royal College of Nursing believes that children with complex heart problems, will have the best results when they are supported with the best surgery, nursing and medical care available. This may involve a smaller number of specialist units. Today’s ruling shows the importance of good consultation when such sensitive subjects are being discussed. We want to see this issue resolved as quickly as possible so that the specialist units can plan for the future, and the care of sick children is not left in jeopardy.” P36.2013-03-28http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/march_2013/wednesday_27_marchYesterday, Jeremy Hunt, Health Secretary set out the Government’s response to the Robert Francis QC’s report, which came out in February and made 290 recommendations, saying that ‘fundamental change; was needed to restore public confidence in the NHS. The Government’s key recommendations include: Students wanting to enter nurse training will need to send up to a year as health care assistants before starting the degree course (a pilot study will be launched); a new Chief Inspector of Hospitals would be able to name and shame poorly performing trusts to the Care Quality Commission; the NHS have a legal duty to report poor care, a duty of candour will be developed covering providers including trust board members, private providers, social care providers and domiciliary care providers, but not for individuals; managers responsible for failures will be barred from working in the health service; hospitals will be subject to Ofsted-style ratings similar to those used in schools. The Government stopped short of the inquiry's demand for a registration system for health care assistants. Jeremy Hunt also said the NHS may have to recruit hundreds of extra nurses to improve standards of care in hospitals The RCN issued a response by Dr Peter Carter saying: "The Francis Inquiry was comprehensive and based its recommendations on several years’ worth of evidence. We agree with the Government that the quality of care is as important as the quality of treatment. There was a great deal to welcome in Robert Francis’ broad range of recommendations and we would now urge the Government to build on the actions they have set out today and work with us to go even further. The Francis Inquiry was also clear about the need for a register of all Health Care Support Workers. We are disappointed that the Government has missed an opportunity to enshrine this in law. A voluntary system may provide false reassurance. A system based on referral to the Vetting and Barring Scheme could help keep a Health Care Support Worker with a suspect record hidden, and moving from one employer to another.” The recommendations received widespread coverage in national and regional news and opinion pieces.2013-03-27http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/march_2013/tuesday_26_marchNurses to spend time as health care assistants, ministers to say Nurses will have to spend time as healthcare assistants, helping patients eat, wash and get dressed as part of measures to be unveiled by ministers in response to the Stafford hospital inquiry. Jeremy Hunt, the health secretary, is expected to announce the move today when he sets out the government’s response to the Robert Francis QC’s report. Ministers believe placing student nurses on wards as healthcare assistants for up to a year will help them develop the caring skills required, before going on to do a degree. New minimum training standards and a code of conduct for health care assistants is also likely to be unveiled, although this looks like it will fall short of the registration scheme recommended by the public inquiry. The Guardian speculates that the RCN may not welcome new nurses having to perform tasks usually done by colleagues who are less well-trained and not strictly part of the clinical workforce, either before or during their training. Dr Peter Carter was interviewed on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme saying: “We have concerns about this. Robert Francis made it very clear that the failings at Mid Staffordshire were at a Board and managerial level. We also have real concerns about who will pay for tens of thousands of new health care assistants”.2013-03-26http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/march_2013/saturday_23-monday_25_marchThe Daily Mirror reports that a move to make 5,500 hospital staff redundant unless they signed cut-price contracts has been scrapped after a furore. North Tees and Hartlepool Foundation Trust issued notice of the plan to its entire workforce and defended the move saying it needed to make millions in savings. Bosses have now agreed to comply with the new national terms and conditions. RCN Regional Director Glenn Turp, is quoted in the Mirror as saying: "It is a shame so much staff and managerial time, resources and NHS money was wasted on this futile pursuit. There is a very important lesson here for other NHS employers who may be tempted to break away from national terms and conditions”. P.262013-03-25http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/march_2013/friday_22_marchThe £20billion efficiency savings in the NHS ordered by its chief executive Sir David Nicholson could lead to another care scandal such as that at Mid Staffs, according to a report out today by the Commons Public Accounts Committee. The health service must make the cuts in the four years to, 2015, but the Commons Public Account Committee is concerned that many financially troubled trusts are simply cost-cutting rather than finding “genuine efficiency savings”. The report shows that organisations are achieving savings by limiting access to treatments such as cataract surgery and hip and knee replacements. Dr Peter Carter is quoted in Telegraph saying: “Not only are certain treatments being rationed, we are also concerned that nursing care itself is starting to be rationed. The NHS has to be financially healthy, but this won’t be achieved in the long term if trusts are living on the edge, either financially or in terms of care”. P 22 NHS hospital Ofsted-style performance rating system not practical, says study2013-03-22http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/march_2013/thursday_21_marchNewspapers today report on yesterday’s Budget announcement. Chancellor George Osborne announced that a 1% pay rise cap for public sector workers will be extended for an extra year to 2015-16. George Osborne said that salaries of NHS staff, council workers and civil servants will remain at below inflation levels until at least 2016. The Chancellor also announced plans to seek "significant" savings through reforming the system of annual rises through pay progression in the public sector. He said such automatic pay rises were difficult to justify given that millions of private sector workers had seen their wages frozen or cut. The proposal has met with angry reactions from unions. Other proposals in the budget include; a planned rise for all alcohol duty, with the exception of beer and beer duty is being cut by 1p. Majority of government departments face cuts of 1% for each of the next two years, but schools and NHS will be protected. A cap on social care costs to come in during 2017 will protect savings above £72,000. Tax free childcare vouchers worth £1,200 per child are to be introduced, along with increased support for families with children on universal credit.2013-03-21http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/march_2013/wednesday_20_marchThe Daily Telegraph reports that Sir David Nicholson faced further calls to resign after it emerged he misled Parliament over how he dealt with a whistleblower. On Monday he told the public accounts committee that Gary Walker, who was sacked from his post as head of United Lincolnshire NHS Trust in February 2010, had not identified himself as a whistleblower and did not raise concerns over patient safety in a letter to Sir David. In the evidence to the health select committee, Mr Walker produced the letter itself and called on Sir David to explain himself. Sir David wrote yesterday to Margaret Hodge MP, the chairman of the public accounts committee to “correct one specific point of detail”.2013-03-20http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/march_2013/tuesday_19_marchBasic care for the elderly in hospitals and care homes in England is still not good enough, according to a report by the Care Quality Commission. The report based on a snapshot of services, found about a third failed to meet all the standards for nutrition and dignity. It cited examples of call-bells being left unanswered, bad manners and a lack of support at meal times. The RCN issued a response by Dr Peter Carter saying: “These are comprehensive reports, which show the improvements which some care providers have made, and the dedication of many staff. However, two thirds of care homes meeting all the five standards is not enough. If your relative is in the third that do not meet all of those standards, you will know that they are not optional extras. We all want our relatives to have dignified care, nutrition, adequate staff to look after them, good record-keeping and proper safeguarding procedures, and these should now be the norm”.2013-03-19http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/march_2013/saturday_16-mionday_18_marchThe Daily Mail reports that Sir David Nicholson, the head of the NHS, is to be questioned about his expenses and his role in gagging whistleblowers today by MPs on the Public Accounts Committee.2013-03-18http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/march_2013/wednesday_13_marchPlans to bring in a minimum price for alcohol look set to be dropped after a Cabinet revolt. The idea, which experts say could cut 2,000 drink-related deaths in a decade, ran into opposition from ministers including home secretary Theresa May, education secretary Michael Gove, Eric Pickles and Andrew Lansley.2013-03-13http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/march_2013/tuesday_12_marchA Care Quality Commission report has found that people with dementia end up in hospital more often and are more likely to die there because their medical needs are being neglected by hospitals and care homes. The report found that care home staff are failing to prevent or detect a range of problems including pneumonia and dehydration. The Alzheimer’s Society have said that even though 80% of care home residents have dementia, many staff have no training in how to care for them properly.2013-03-12http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/march_2013/saturday_9-monday_11_marchAnyone going into hospital in future decades are at risk unless new antibiotics are discovered to stem the rise of deadly superbugs, warns Professor Dame Sally Davies, the Chief Medical Officer. In her report, Dame Sally Davies says antibiotic resistance should be ranked alongside terrorism, pandemics, climate change and natural disasters on the Government's risk register of serious threats to Britain. The RCN issued a response from Dr Peter Carter saying: “This is an important issue and it is the responsibility of everyone in health care, from front line staff to the Government, to act. Nursing staff play an important role by driving improvements in infection prevention and supporting patient and public education on the use of antibiotics”2013-03-11http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/march_2013/thursday_7_marchDavid Cameron yesterday blamed Labour’s top-down target culture for the Mid-Staffs scandal and suggested they should apologise. Mr Cameron made the comments at Prime Minister’s questions in response to a call to sack Sir David Nicholson, saying that Sir David had apologised and calling for others to be ‘thinking about their positions.’2013-03-07http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/march_2013/wednesday_06_marchThe regulator for nurses and midwives is still not doing enough to protect patients properly, according to MPs. The Health Select Committee said a huge backlog of cases was hampering the ability of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) to safeguard standards. The cross-party group of MPs also highlighted the regulator's poor record of having decisions overturned on appeal. The RCN issued a response by Dr Peter Carter saying: “Nursing needs a strong, effective regulator which is fit to meet the needs of patients and the profession. This report highlights that the NMC has made some progress in prioritising Fitness to Practice hearings, and reducing its immense backlog. The NMC needs to forge ahead with this and develop revalidation as a priority”.2013-03-06http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/march_2013/tuesday_05_marchProductivity in the NHS remains "stubbornly stagnant", its workforce is shrinking and GP surgeries are receiving less money than before to spend on patient care, according to a report by the Nuffield Trust. The report also concluded that an increasing number of NHS organisations, especially hospital trusts, are getting into financial difficulties partly because of the cost of PFI deals. Dr Peter Carter was quoted on Guardian Online saying: “Nurses at trusts which have continual financial trouble are worried their employers' focus on finances may mean they struggle to keep delivering high quality care”.2013-03-05http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/february_2013/thursday_28_februaryBolton NHS foundation trust’s Chief Executive, Jackie Bene, is to temporarily step down while an investigation is carried out into accusations of discrepancies in the mortality rates recorded at the trust. Following six years of high mortality rates the trust improved dramatically in 2011; however concern has been raised that the number of deaths from septicaemia was four times higher than expected. Bolton CCG has commissioned the independent watchdog Dr Foster to investigate whether these deaths had been recorded incorrectly to mask poor standards of care.2013-02-28http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/february_2013/tuesday_26_februaryThe Daily Mail reports that Patients First and Cure the NHS will today deliver a letter to David Cameron criticising his behaviour in backing NHS chief Sir David Nicholson. In the letter, the campaigners argue the Government is protecting Sir David because he has 'faithfully implemented government policies'. The Daily Telegraph reports that up to 20 Conservatives MPs will today demand the resignation of Sir David Nicholson. They are expected to sign a Commons early day motion tabled by Charlotte Leslie, the Conservative MP for Bristol North West, calling for "accountability" over the deaths at Stafford Hospital in the past 10 years.2013-02-26http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/february_2013/saturday_23-monday_25_februaryThe Daily Telegraph reports that nurses and other medical staff should be more free to voice concerns about standards of care, according to its own poll. Eight out of 10 people said nurses should be encouraged to speak out, while 69 per cent felt nurses were unable to voice concerns. The Telegraph also carries a comment piece by Dr Max Pemberton. P.92013-02-25http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/february_2013/friday_22_februaryDoctors’ whistleblowing hotline A whistleblowing hotline set up by the General Medical Council to encourage doctors to raise concerns has lead to 12 ‘very serious’ investigations to be launched in just ten weeks. The hotline was set up to allow doctors to raise concerns about patient safety where they might otherwise feel unable to do so. The BBC News Online mentions the whistleblowing phone line set up by the RCN in 2009, which received around two calls a week in its first year.2013-02-22http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/february_2013/thursday_21_februaryPrime Minister David Cameron has reiterated his support for head of the NHS Sir David Nicholson following growing calls for his resignation. Cameron warned against ‘seeking a scapegoat,’ adding that Sir David has ‘properly apologised’ and that he has an impressive ‘grip and grasp and love for the NHS.’2013-02-21http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/february_2013/wednesday_20_februaryThe Guardian reports that obese patients take up extra bed spaces in hospital, require more staff to treat them and need an array of super-strength equipment to withstand their weight, according to survey carried out by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy. Dr Peter Carter is quoted as saying: “We are hearing too often about nurses having their safety comprised in the course of looking after obese patients some nurses are injuring themselves by trying to manage on their own. Injury is a particular risk for community nurses who do not have the right equipment or colleagues on hand to help them move very heavy patients”.2013-02-20http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/february_2013/tuesday_19_februaryThe Daily Mail reports hospital managers at Mid- Staffordshire Trust won glowing praise from the head of the NHS. At the height of the Mid Staffordshire scandal, Sir David Nicholson toured wards and in a follow-up letter said 'well done' for 'progress in target areas'. The visit came in October 2005.2013-02-19http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/february_2013/saturday_16_-_monday_18_februaryMid-staffs police investigation Staffordshire Police announced on Friday that they would be reviewing the evidence in the Francis report, following calls from politicians and campaigners for prosecutions. A police spokesperson said they would be working with the Crown Prosecution Service to identify whether there is any potential for criminal charges. The police also confirmed that their investigation will include evidence which has not been made public.2013-02-18http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/february_2013/friday_15_februaryNHS whistleblower Gary Walker, A former NHS Trust chief executive who broke the terms of a gagging order this week has been invited to give evidence about his concerns to the Commons health select committee. Chairman of the committee Stephen Dorrell has also written to Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt outlining his concerns over the use of gagging clauses in the NHS. Mr Walker says he is facing financial ruin from the prospect of repaying United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust (UHLT).2013-02-15http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/february_2013/thursday_14_february2King’s Fund quarterly report A King’s Fund quarterly monitoring report has found that a third of NHS Finance Directors believe the quality of patient care in their area has declined in the past year. Other findings include a 10-year high in the number of people waiting over four hours to be seen at A&E departments. Dr Peter Carter is quoted in the Metro, saying: ‘Efficiency savings must not come at the expense of patient care. We cannot continue to ignore the warnings about the detrimental effects of increasing financial pressure.’2013-02-15http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/february_2013/thursday_14_februaryFrancis calls for regulation of healthcare assistants Robert Francis QC told the health select committee yesterday that some healthcare assistants have less training for their job and face fewer checks than bouncers or minicab drivers. He warned there was nothing to stop a worker found totally unfit by one hospital being employed by another. Dr Peter Carter is quoted as saying: “If you walk into a ward for older people, this is where you find most of the staff nowadays are not nurses; they are healthcare assistants. There is nothing wrong with healthcare assistants providing they have had a proper training and education, but in far too many cases they’ve not had as much as an hour of training.”2013-02-15http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/february_2013/tuesday_12_februaryNHS Trusts should consider local pay plan says Foundation Trust Network The BBC reports that a body representing more than 200 NHS trusts across England says new ways of negotiating pay need to be considered. The chief executive of the Foundation Trust Network (FTN), Chris Hopson, has questioned whether national agreements can deliver the savings needed for the health service. He said it was time to consider setting pay regionally or trust-by-trust. Janet Davies, RCN Executive Director is quoted as saying: “Our experience shows that the cost of moving to individual negotiation can outweigh any potential benefit. Nor will the NHS be able to raise the standard of care by moving to a system of pay cartels. The present Agenda for Change system is a transparent and fair system that allows employers to plan ahead with certainty and to reward experience”.2013-02-12http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/february_2013/saturday_9-monday_11_februaryThe Daily Mail contains a 2-part investigation into nursing at NHS hospitals. The article cities Dr Peter Carter comments that health care assistants need to be regulated and have the right training.2013-02-11http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/february_2013Figures released by the RCN show that over 1,700 jobs are being cut at four of the five trusts which are being investigated for high mortality rates. The figures which were obtained through the Frontline First campaign show that 510 jobs will go at Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust, 128 at Tameside Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, 218 at Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and 873 at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust. Dr Peter Carter is quoted in several newspapers including The Daily Mirror, The Daily Express and The Daily Mail saying: “The appalling events at Mid Staffs were caused by a combination of an unacceptable culture, poor leadership and a board who put finance before patients. This focus on finance saw the trust reduce nursing numbers to dangerous levels. “Trusts cannot be allowed to let staffing levels, particularly clinical posts such as nurses, fall to unsafe levels. Trusts cannot keep cutting posts without disastrous consequences.”2013-02-08http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/february_2013/thursday_7_februaryYesterday, Robert Francis QC published the results of his public inquiry into deaths at Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust. The full report and executive summary can be found on the inquiry’s website. Robert Francis made 290 recommendations, saying that ‘fundamental change’ was needed to restore public confidence in the NHS. Francis said that there was a culture of poor care but that responsibility rested with the hospital’s board.2013-02-07http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/february_2013/wednesday_06_februaryThe Daily Telegraph contains a blog by Cristiana Odone discussing what can be done to avoid another situation like Mid-Staffordshire NHS Trust. Christina discusses the tips Dr Peter Carter gave her recently, including greater involvement in families helping out and having more flexible visiting hours. /2013-02-06http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/february_2013/tuesday_05_februaryNHS managers are incentivised to ignore problems The Daily Telegraph reports incentives at the heart of the NHS mean it is better for managers to quietly run hospitals into the ground rather than admit they are failing, according to an expert who helped uncover the poor care at Mid-Staffordshire Foundation Trust. Roger Taylor, co-founder of the health information service Dr Foster, said chief executives of failing hospitals tended to cut costs, cross their fingers and “hope that no one notices” the decline in quality.2013-02-05http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/february_2013/saturday_2-_monday_4_februaryDr Peter Carter’s interview with Sunday Telegraph The Sunday Telegraph contains an interview with Dr Carter on why healthcare assistants need better training and regulation. Dr Carter said patients are being put at risk because some staff on hospital wards for older people have less than an hour’s training. NHS Trusts can offer training to healthcare assistants, but are not obliged to. No records are held to show how much training an average worker receives before starting. Dr Peter Carter’s interview with Saturday’s Times The Times contains an interview with Dr Carter, warning that a repeat of the Mid Staffordshire hospital scandal, is inevitable. Dr Carter said the cuts in nursing staff, low morale and pressure to meet financial targets had created an atmosphere of fear and put patients at greater risk of poor care and neglect.2013-02-04http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/january_2013/thursday_31_januarySir David Nicholson, chief executive of the NHS, yesterday apologised for the failings that lead to hundreds of deaths at Mid Stafford NHS Foundation Trust. Sir David said the NHS had let people down, and promised to give patients ‘much more clout’. The apology was made ahead of the publication of the Francis report into the scandal next week.2013-01-31http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/january_2013/tuesday_29_januaryMore than 60 organisations, including the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, are calling for sugary drinks to be taxed, adding up to 20p a litre to their price, in order to improve children's health. A report by Sustain, a food and farming charity, said the Government could raise £1bn a year from a duty on sugary drinks, which could pay for free school meals and measures to encourage children to eat fruit and vegetables.2013-01-29http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/january_2013/saturday_26-monday_28_januaryThe Independent contains an article on the Francis report into failings of care at Mid-Staffordshire Trust, which is to be published next week. The Independent interviewed Ron Street, 79, a close friend of Gillian Astbury, who died at Stafford hospital. The Sunday Times reports that relatives of those treated at Stafford Hospital, claim Labour politicians at every level ignored their calls to investigate systematic neglect. The Observer examines a report by the Patients Association, which warns that hospitals are risking a repeat of the Mid Staffordshire Trust scandal by failing to scruntise mistakes and neglect by staff to improve the quality of care. The report, Listening and Learning, says weaknesses in the NHS's complaints system means that poor care risks are not being spotted and stopped.2013-01-28http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/january_2013/friday_25_januaryShadow health secretary Andy Burnham outlined plans to reform social care by charging everyone whether they needed services or not. Currently people must pay for their own social care and many are forced to sell their homes to afford the costs. Mr Burnham made the announcement as part of a review into Labour’s health policies, which included brining health and social care together into one service.2013-01-25http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/january_2013/thursday_24_januaryIn a speech today, the shadow health secretary Andy Burnham will propose that health, social care and mental health budgets are combined so there is a ‘single point of contact’ to deal with all patients’ needs. Mr Burnham writes in the Daily Telegraph that the NHS cannot survive in its current form, as it is costing so much money to keep patients in hospital because there is no support for them at home.2013-01-24http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/january_2013/wednesday_23_januaryThe first vaccine for meningitis B has been licensed in the EU, making it likely that it will soon be included in the NHS’s immunisation programme. Meningitis B affects nearly 2,000 people in Britain every year and kills one in ten sufferers. The vaccine, Bexsero, is being reviewed by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation which will decide whether to include it in the NHS’s free immunisation programme. Until then parents can pay for their children to have the vaccine but charities have called for the drug to be introduced to the NHS as soon as possible.2013-01-23http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/january_2013/tuesday_22_januaryThe Daily Mail reports that thousands of patients are dying in hospitals each year because there are not enough doctors or nurses, according to researchers from the University of Southampton and Imperial College London. The researchers believe patients in overstretched hospitals are prone to developing fatal complications and infections because they are not properly monitored. The RCN issued a statement to the Daily Mail from Dr Peter Carter, saying: “The RCN has repeatedly condemned the pressure nurses are under from short staffing. This research confirms what frontline nurses know: having too few nurses on a ward does not just make nursing more difficult, more importantly it puts patients at risk2013-01-22http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/january_2013/saturday_19_-_monday_21_januaryHealth Secretary Jeremy Hunt has said that there may be pockets of poor care like that which caused a scandal at Stafford Hospital in other parts of the NHS. Hunt made the comments ahead of the Francis report into the problems at Mid Staffordshire between 2005 and 2008, which is due to be published in the coming weeks. Dr Peter Carter is quoted in The Guardian, saying: “Hospitals are rarely universally excellent and rarely universally poor. I agree with the Secretary of State: you just don’t know what you are looking at.” Dr Carter also called for more detailed performance monitoring.2013-01-21http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/january_2013/friday_18_januaryOn Monday we responded to changes announced by the NMC to their registration and fitness to practise processes. The quote welcomed the introduction of voluntary removal and consensual panel determinations, saying they will both allow the NMC to give more attention to their most serious cases. The statement added that rises in registration fees mean that the NMC needs to be as efficient as possible.2013-01-18http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/january_2013/thursday_17_januaryThe Daily Mail reports on the guidelines on addiction to medicines which were issued by a number of organisations including the Royal College of Nursing and Royal College of GPs. The guidelines call for doctors to monitor patients’ prescriptions regularly to ensure they are still needed and to prevent addiction developing.2013-01-17http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/january_2013/wednesday_16_januaryThe prescription of sleeping pills and tranquillisers should be reduced and carefully monitored because of the dangers of addiction and dependency, according to a group of health professionals. The alliance, which includes the, The Royal College of Nursing, Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP), the Department of Health and the Royal College of Psychiatrists, is calling on doctors to prescribe drugs such as the benzodiazepine Valium only under very particular circumstances.2013-01-16http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/january_2013/tuesday_15_januaryThe Liverpool Care Pathway for the dying must survive the current controversy because doctors need guidelines to help their patients at the end of life, says Care Services Minister Norman Lamb. He has appointed Lady Julia Neuberger, the crossbench peer, rabbi and former chief executive of the health thinktank the King's Fund, to carry out an independent review of the Liverpool Care Pathway, after a series of denunciations. The RCN released a statement from Dr Peter Carter, saying: “We are pleased to see that an independent inquiry has been established into the Liverpool Care Pathway. The RCN believes that if properly implemented, the pathway makes a huge difference to end of life care”.2013-01-15http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/january_2013/saturday_12-monday_14_januarySeventeen NHS hospitals are among 26 healthcare providers in England failing to operate with safe staffing levels, according to the Care Quality Commission. The health watchdog issued the hospitals with warnings in November, after carrying out inspections. About 16% of hospitals failed to come up to the necessary level. The Sunday Mirror reports that Labour has backed a campaign by the Safe Staffing Alliance, which includes the RCN and Unison calling for a minimum number of nurses in each ward.2013-01-14http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/january_2013/friday_11_januaryA report by the Metropolitan Police and the NSPCC into the Jimmy Savile scandal is due to be published today, and will describe how Savile was able to dupe many organisations, including hospices and hospitals, into giving him access to vulnerable young people. Savile is reported to have abused up to 500 children, and the authors of the inquiry hope it will mark a ‘cultural change’ in how allegations of abuse are dealt with by the authorities.2013-01-11http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/january_2013/thursday_10_januaryThe Government yesterday published a midterm report into the coalition listing the pledges made in 2010 and what progress has been made in each of them. However, critics have accused the government of misleading or evasive verdicts in many of the categories. Dr Peter Carter is quoted in The Times, commenting on the healthcare section of the report: “Frontline staff will struggle to recognise the picture of the NHS painted in today’s report when faced with the reality of what is happening on the ground.”2013-01-10http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/january_2013/wednesday_9_januaryA report published today by the Health Select Committee has criticised the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as not being thorough enough and says that the public does not trust it as a result. The report found that inspectors were too often simply ticking boxes rather than examining the culture of organisations, and that the CQC still lacks focus. The committee did note however that there have been improvements since last year, with a better focus on patient safety. The RCN released a statement from Dr Peter Carter , saying: "We know that the culture of healthcare organisations cannot be regulated, however, we agree with the report that the CQC can play a vital play in ensuring that organisations support stuff in raising concerns without fear of retribution. We look forward to continuing our work with the CQC in this area to make sure staff are fully supported."2013-01-09http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/january_2013/tuesday_08_januaryThe Daily Telegraph reports that older people are being betrayed by a system that cannot afford to look after them, says Prof Ashton, the incoming president of the Faculty of Public Health. He also said the fragmentation in public health and other sectors of the health service would put children and vulnerable adults at risk of abuse because the various agencies involved in their care were being split up. The article quotes Dr Peter Carter calling for more details on improvements to social care.2013-01-08http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/january_2013/saturday_5-monday_7_januaryHealth experts reject ‘friends and family’ test The "friends and family" test hailed by David Cameron last week as a means of driving up standards of care in hospitals and GP surgeries has been criticised by experts working for the NHS regulator, the Care Quality Commission. Research commissioned by the CQC at the request of Department of Health and published in June 2012 concluded the test, based on one used in the retail industry, was “not appropriate for use in an NHS setting”. Dr Peter Carter took part in an interview on LBC Radio on Saturday on the Ken Livingstone show.2013-01-07http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/january_2013/friday_4_januaryDavid Cameron has announced plans to improve care in the NHS, including an extended ‘friends and family’ test, compulsory hourly ward rounds and specialist training for dealing with dementia for all NHS staff. The Prime Minister also announced that a new set of ‘minimum standards’ for health care assistants will be unveiled in the next few weeks. Dr Peter Carter welcomed the announcement, and is quoted in the Daily Mail and BBC online saying: “Providing the best quality care for patients has always been at the heart of nursing. Day after day our members tell us that they want to focus their energy on the needs of their patients, spending more time at the bedside caring for them and their families.”2013-01-04http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/january_2013/thursday_3_januaryA scheme will be introduced this year to offer GP surgeries incentives for reducing avoidable admissions to A&E. The new Clinical Commissioning Groups which are being set up to replace primary care trusts will be set targets and paid bonuses for meeting them, with one of the targets being reducing avoidable A&E admissions. The scheme has been criticised by senior GPs including the BMA’s GPs’ committee who said patients might suspect doctors are deciding what action to take based on money.2013-01-03http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/january_2013/sunday_23_december_-_wednesday_2_januaryNHS Manager pay Figures revealed by the Sunday Mirror showed that senior hospital managers had received a pay rise while nurses endured a two year pay freeze. The pay freeze combined with the rising cost of living means income has fallen by nine per cent in two years. Dr Peter Carter was quoted in the Sunday Mirror saying: “Nursing staff are already being stretched to breaking point because of staffing cuts, and on top of that they are seeing their pay being cut in real terms. Chief executives enjoying a significant increase in pay sends completely the wrong message to hard working frontline staff.”2013-01-02http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/december_2011/friday_21_decemberHealth Secretary Jeremy Hunt has said the NHS would invest heavily in a drug which markedly slowed the onset of dementia if one became available. Mr Hunt made the comments during a tour of a drug firm yesterday, and said that a national system such as the NHS allows him to “look at the whole societal cost of something like dementia”, and compare the cost of investing in expensive drugs against the current costs of treating the disease, which currently affects around 800,000 people in Britain. Also announced yesterday was £22million investment in projects to test for new treatments for dementia.2012-12-21http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/december_2011/thursday_20_decemberThe RCN has published a report calling for mandatory regulation of health care support workers, saying Government plans for voluntary regulation are too weak. The report says that the workers should face sanctions for unprofessional actions, and that there is a danger that those who potentially pose the greatest danger are least likely to voluntarily join a register. Dr Peter Carter is quoted in the Telegraph saying: “The NHS could not operate without the hundreds of thousands of health care support workers, who deliver care to patients in hospitals, care homes and the community. “With the proposed voluntary system of regulation, employers and more importantly patients will not have full confidence that the person caring for them meets the standards required.” Dr Carter was also interviewed about this issue on the Today programme on BBC Radio 4 this morning.2012-12-20http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/december_2011/wednesday_19_decemberHundreds of thousands of people are thought to have been affected by the winter vomiting bug with confirmed cases 83 per cent higher than at this time last year, according to the Health Protection Agency. The Daily Mail reports that more than 5,000 NHS workers are calling in sick everyday with the vomiting bug. Four in ten trusts have reported outbreaks among patients.2012-12-19http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/december_2011/tuesday_18_decemberThe Daily Telegraph reports that the Government will today announce that surgeons will be ranked by how many people die in their operating theatres, with the results published in league tables. The measure is part of new contracts being introduced in the NHS that will also see hospitals fined if patients wait longer than a year for an operation or if surgery is cancelled twice. A new guidance document issued by the new NHS Commissioning Board sets out rewards for improving care and outlines fines for delays or poor treatment. Dr Peter Carter said he “absolutely agreed” with the thrust of the document, but maintained that fines would only make matters worse for struggling trusts. “We don’t want to make life more financially difficult than it needs to be”. The Daily Mail reports that the NHS Commissioning Board document also sets out that GPs will be paid thousands of pounds in bonuses for hitting new targets. Their practices will be given extra payments worth up to £30,000 a year if they make improvements in cancer, dementia and out-of-hours care. The Guardian reports the NHS Commissioning Board will discontinue the current funding arrangements, which use a complex formula involving age, poverty and regional price differences to work out how much an average patient in each part of the country should get from the taxpayer. Sir David Nicholson, Chief Executive of the board was interviewed by BBC Radio 4 Today Programme.2012-12-18http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/december_2011/saturday_15-monday_17_decemberHospitals and GPs' surgeries could soon be expected to provide more routine services at the weekend under proposals to accelerate the spread of seven-day working across the National Health Service. Sir Bruce Keogh, medical director of the new NHS Commissioning Board which sets the priorities for the health service, will announce a group to draw up proposals for how services such as day surgery and outpatients' appointments can move towards a seven-day model. He said the NHS had to learn from private sector companies such as Tesco. The Guardian reports that the BMA cautioned against comparing patient to shoppers and the health service to the supermarket. Comment pieces in The Daily Telegraph and The Independent welcome the move of doctors working seven days a week.2012-12-17http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/december_2011/thursday_13_decemberNational Audit Office report into NHS efficiency savings The National Audit Office today published its report into how well the NHS was doing in delivering £20bn of efficiency savings. The report criticises the Department of Health for not doing more to check that NHS trusts’ claimed savings have actually occurred, with around 30 per cent of the savings lacking any kind of independent verification. The report also states that the NHS has made the easiest savings first, and expresses concern that the NHS will struggle to meet increasing health care demands while also finding further savings unless ‘fundamental’ changes are made to the service.2012-12-13http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/december_2011/wednesday_12_decemberThe BBC reports that experts have been called in after a hospital trust was deemed unable to clear a £45m budget deficit. Monitor, the health sector regulator, is to send in a Contingency Planning Team to Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. The aim is to cut the deficit while maintaining patient service levels. The trust said it had had debt problems since October 2010 but had maintained care quality while doing all it could to turn the situation around.2012-12-12http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/december_2011/tuesday_11_decemberThe Daily Telegraph picked up comments made by Tina Donnelly, Head of RCN Wales after Ann Clwyd, MP accused hospital staff of treating her husband "like a battery hen" before he died. Tina Donnelly said wards had become so overcrowded that nurses did not have time to listen to patients or help with their rehabilitation. She added that nurses have a duty to report any cases where they believe colleagues are acting without compassion or are providing a substandard level of care.2012-12-11http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/december_2011/saturday_8-_monday_10_decembereath of nurse Jacintha Saldanha There has been widespread coverage this weekend on the nurse Jacintha Saldahan, who committed suicide after taking a hoax call from two Australian radio broadcasters pretending to be the Queen and Prince Charles asking for information on the Duchess of Cambridge’s medical condition. The RCN issued a response saying that: “This is tragic news, and the thoughts of all at the Royal College of Nursing go to the family of Jacintha Saldanha. It is deeply saddening that a simple human error due to a cruel hoax could lead to the death of a dedicated and caring member of the nursing profession.” The comments were picked up by a number of national newspapers and broadcasters.2012-12-10http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/december_2011/friday_7_decemberA report has shown that one in three patients is waiting more than an hour to be seen at A&E. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) surveyed 46,000 patients and found that waiting times had worsened over the past year. Dr Peter Carter is quoted in the Daily Mail saying: “These findings are symptomatic of a system under huge strain because of a lack of beds and staff. “People should not be waiting an unreasonable time to be admitted and treated but, when the country’s health care needs are increasing and already over-stretched hospitals are losing resources, it is sadly inevitable that waiting times will increase.”2012-12-07http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/december_2011/thursday_6_decemberFollowing the formal start of consultation with trade unions over the move from NHS Direct to the new 111 service, it was revealed that 1,482 wholetime equivalent staff are at risk of redundancy. Dr Peter Carter is quoted in the Guardian, Daily Mirror and Daily Express saying: "These plans amount to abolishing a nurse-led self-care and advice service for cost-cutting reasons, but this will prove to be a false economy when it increases the pressure on ambulance services, A&E wards and GP surgeries."2012-12-06http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/december_2011/wednesday_05_decemberNurses will be rated for their compassion There is further coverage today on how nurses will be formally judged on how compassionate they are with patients and not on their clinical skills alone under a national strategy announced yesterday. The guidelines, drawn up by chief nursing officer Jane Cummings, tell nurses to focus on the ‘six Cs’ – compassion, care, competence, communication, courage and commitment.2012-12-05http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/december_2011/tuesday_4th_decemberNurses will be formally judged on how compassionate they are with patients and not on their clinical skills alone under a national strategy to be announced today. Jane Cummings, the Chief Nursing Officer for England, will outline her vision for what she will call "a culture of compassionate care". Ms Cummings will tell a conference in Manchester how she plans to embed values such as compassion, communication, and commitment in public health care.2012-12-04http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/december_2011/saturday_1-_monday_3_decemberDr Peter Carter and colleagues from other medical bodies have written a letter to the Telegraph admitting that older patients are being let down by "systemic failings" in the NHS. The letter calls upon commissioners and hospital providers to give guarantees that key areas for improving care for older people2012-12-03http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/november_2012/thursday_29_novemberJeremy Hunt gave a speech to the King’s Fund yesterday in which he said the decline in standards of care may be the biggest problem facing the NHS. Hunt said that while most parts of the NHS cared for patients well, in other parts there has been “a kind of normalisation of cruelty”, and called for an ‘Ofsted’ style rating system. He also called for accountability to reach to the top, with managers losing their jobs if care was not acceptable.2012-11-29http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/november_2012/wednesday_28_novemberThe Guardian reports that patient care is being damaged by the NHS’s efforts to meet government’s savings drive, according to the Guardian healthcare network’s survey of NHS professionals. Almost half of those surveyed believe patient safety is being affected by the need to save £20bn by 2015. The findings confirm that rationing of treatment has become widespread in England and that growing numbers of NHS services are being privatised as the spending squeeze coincides with rising demand for healthcare. Dr Peter Carter told the Guardian that the survey findings underline his view that the Nicholson challenge is looking for savings in the wrong places, and NHS staff are bearing the consequences of ill-thought cuts dressed up as efficiency. He added “It’s a false economy to be getting rid of frontline staff because demand and workload are definitely going up while staffing levels are going down”. The article notes that the RCN has identified more than 60,000 posts in the NHS in England have been lost or earmarked for cuts.2012-11-28http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/november_2012/tuesday_27th_novemberThe government has ordered an independent review into a regime that allows doctors to withdraw treatment in the last days of life. The Liverpool Care Pathway has come under intense scrutiny recently, with claims that some hospitals are abusing its use to cut costs. Medical and Health Professionals say the pathway helps patients avoid unnecessary interventions. Care and Support Minister Norman Lamb said he would appoint an independent chair to report back in the New Year.2012-11-27http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/november_2012/saturday_24-_monday_26_novemberConsultation begins on minimum alcohol pricing Options for minimum alcohol pricing are to be announced by the government this week, as David Cameron begins a consultation about cracking down on cheap alcohol. The Guardian and The Independent on Sunday mention that last week the Alcohol Health Alliance, whose members include the Royal College of Nursing and British Medical Association wrote to the Sunday Times urging the government to set the unit price at 50p. The RCN released a statement from Dr Peter Carter saying: “Alcohol abuse costs the NHS £3billion every year and nursing staff witness firsthand the social costs of binge drinking every day. Alcohol abuse causes long term health conditions, increases crime, destroys families and puts A&E staff at risk from violence; all of which are totally unacceptable. As long as alcohol is available at a heavily discounted price these will continue”.2012-11-26http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/november_2012/friday_23_novemberCare Quality Commission ‘State of Care’ report The Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) annual report into social care has found that one in five patients have their care neglected. The CQC warned that low staffing levels is a contributing factor to poor care. It also adds that care needs to person-centred, and a culture where poor care becomes the norm must be avoided. Dr Peter Carter is quoted in The Guardian and BBC News Online, saying: "The report echoes the RCN's warnings that not enough hospitals, nursing and care homes are adequately staffed and when coupled with the wrong mix of skills is having a real effect on patient care. "We hope that this report acts as a warning that cutting staff at a time when the country's healthcare needs are becoming more complex is a recipe for disaster."2012-11-23http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/november_2012/thursday_22_novemberNHS Workforce statistics: The latest NHS Workforce statistics published yesterday revealed that over 7,000 nursing posts have been cut since May 2010. The RCN released a statement from Dr Peter Carter saying: “These numbers are further evidence of the damaging effect that cuts are having on the NHS. We have frequently stated our concerns that this level of cuts will have a long lasting and detrimental impact on patient care.”2012-11-22http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/november_2012/wednesday_21_novemberGrowing numbers of people are dying from liver disease caused by heavy drinking and unhealthy eating, according to the Chief Medical Officer’s annual report. In her first report on the state of the nation’s health, Dame Sally Davies said comprehensive action was needed to tackle the problem. The RCN issued a response to the report. Dr Peter Carter said: “It is shocking that the death rate from liver disease is increasing in England at a time when it is falling across Europe. Alcohol abuse is one of the greatest threats to public health in this country and it can only be tackled by robust regulation of the industry, along with a minimum unit price to prevent binge drinking”.2012-11-21http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/november_2012/tuesday_20_novemberCQC warns hospital over children’s care An Essex hospital has been warned its services for children must improve after they were found "completely unacceptable" by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). The inspectors visited Basildon Hospital after a girl, 10, died of a suspected drugs error. The CQC said inspectors had a "number of serious concerns" including finding out-of-date medication.2012-11-20http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/november_2012/saturday_17-_monday_19_novemberThe Daily Telegraph reports that rationing of treatment has increased in the NHS and GPs are now forced to apply for funding for IVF treatment, obesity surgery, and for drugs, according to a report. When a primary care trust refuses to fund treatment, GPs or other doctors can make an “individual funding request” on behalf of the patient. A series of Freedom of Information Act requests has revealed that such requests increased by a fifth between 2010/11 and 2011/12.2012-11-19http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/november_2012/friday_16_novemberCost of refreshments - The Department of Health has spent £1.3million on refreshments since the 2010 election. The article mentions the RCN Frontline First figures of 60,000 NHS jobs at risk or cut, and a quote from Dianne Abbott MP mentioned that over 6,000 nursing posts have been cut.2012-11-16http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/november_2012/wednesday_14_novemberFrontline First The Daily Mirror today has published several letters responding to the RCN’s Frontline First report, all of which are critical of the staff cuts identified by the RCN.2012-11-14http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/november_2012/tuesday_13_novemberRCN – Frontline First report The RCN today has released their Frontline First campaign report, which has identified more than 60,000 posts across the NHS are now at risk or been axed - up from 55,000 six months ago. The report includes official figures from the NHS Information Centre that shows the workforce has fallen almost 21,000 since the Coalition Government came to power. This includes a loss of more than 6,000 qualified nursing posts. The report received extensive media coverage in The Daily Express, The Daily Mirror, Metro, The Daily Telegraph, The Guardian, The Independent, The Sun, The Times and Daily Star and BBC News Online. The report also received extensive regional coverage. Dr Peter Carter was quoted as saying: “Nurses are telling us that they do not have enough staff to deliver good quality care. The £3billion the Treasury has clawed back for the NHS in the last two years should be reinvested back into vital jobs and services. The vast majority of patients are still receiving good care but its’ irrefutable that the system’s under huge strain. One of the areas that we commonly see cause for concern is care of older people”. Dr Peter Carter was interviewed by BBC Radio, BBC TV, Sky News and BBC Radio 5 Live. Howard Catton, Head of Policy is scheduled to be interviewed by BBC London TV and BBC General News Service. Janet Davies, Executive Director is scheduled to be interviewed today by ITV Lunchtime News and Sky News.2012-11-13http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/november_2012/saturday_10-_mionday_12_novemberThe Times reports that under a plan being drawn up by the Home Secretary Theresa May, migrants from Europe could be barred from claiming benefits in Britain or using the NHS. Theresa May signalled that she was working on the proposals ahead of the end of restrictions limiting the number of migrants from Bulgaria and Romania allowed in Britain.2012-11-12http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/november_2012/friday_9_novemberHealth Service Ombudsman report The Daily Telegraph reports figures from the health service ombudsman which show complaints about the NHS failing to acknowledge mistakes have risen by 50% from last year. The ombudsman’s annual report into the NHS’s handling of mistakes also shows that complaints over trusts providing poor explanations also increased. The ombudsman, Dame Julie Mellor, said that the NHS should get better at listening to and communicating with patients and their families. The RCN released a statement in response to the report calling for improved communication. Dr Peter Carter said: “The RCN believes that good communication is at the heart of good nursing. The RCN is playing its part to strengthen the communication between staff and patients by working with the Royal College of Physicians to improve ward rounds in acute hospitals, which can otherwise be a confusing experience and a lost opportunity for patients.”2012-11-09http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/november_2012/thursday_8_novemberDementia The Daily Telegraph reports new plans to increase awareness and improve research into dementia. The Prime Minister will announce the plans today, which will include memory tests for all pensioners every time they visit a doctor, and basic training for a million people to make them Dementia Friends who can identify and help those with the condition. There will also be a £9.6 million research project into the causes of the disease and a £1 million prize to any NHS organisation which successfully improves diagnosis. The Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt is quoted in the article calling for a society where people can “live well with dementia.” The Daily Express contains an editorial welcoming the plans, saying they are long overdue. The RCN issued a response to the plans from Dr Peter Carter, saying: "These volunteers will undoubtedly be a boost to those providing care. That being said, it must go hand in hand with proper investment, especially when those with the expertise to treat dementia, such as nurses, are being cut. This should not be an either-or scenario.”2012-11-08http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/november_2012/wednesday_7_novemberThe Daily Telegraph reports that more than 1,000 working doctors and nurses and carers have written to the paper to defend the Liverpool Care Pathway, saying it is how they themselves would wish to die. The Guardian contains a comment piece on end-of-life care by Martin Brunet GP, defending the Liverpool Care Pathway. Dr Brunet says the LCP is not a ghoulish “death pathway”, but a compassionate, carefully written document which helps doctors, patients and their families make the right decisions near the end of life.2012-11-07http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/november_2012/tuesday_06_novemberNHS Constitution The Daily Mail and The Daily Mirror report that patients could sue the NHS if they are forced into mixed sex wards under a revamp of the NHS constitution. The patients’ charter will also see patients denied treatment if they are abusive towards staff. Dr Peter Carter was quoted as saying: “We agree with the sentiment in principle but it is another thing putting it into practice. We are not going to fling out a person if they have a very minor ailment and they are being abusive”.2012-11-06http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/november_2012/saturday_3-monday_5_novemberhe Daily Telegraph, The Times and The Independent report on the Willis commission, led by Lord Willis of Knaresborough, the Liberal Democrat peer. The report on the future of nursing education was commissioned by the Royal College of Nursing, to examine the training system for nurses. Lord Willis supported RCN on the recommendation that healthcare assistants should be regulated. Dr Peter Carter said in The Times that he welcomed and endorsed the commission’s report and was also interviewed on LBC Radio.2012-11-05http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/november_2012/friday_2_novemberHospital infections The Daily Mirror reports that in the past three years the NHS has paid out £20million to people who had contracted infections while in hospital. The article notes that while hospitals are starting to deal with the better known superbugs such as MRSA, the total number of patients picking up a hospital infection has doubled in the past two years. An editorial in the paper calls on the NHS to renew its focus on quality services, and blames contracting out cleaning services for the increase in infections, saying cleaners should be paid a living wage to do the best job.2012-11-02http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/november_2012/thursday_1_november£1bn raided from NHS - The Mirror and Guardian have reported that the Treasury has taken £1bn from the NHS. The Department of Health had underspent its allocated funding by £1.4bn this year, with £400m of that being rolled over into next year’s budget and the rest going back to the Treasury. Labour has criticised the move and highlighted that the cash was being returned while there were 6,000 fewer nurses in the NHS since the coalition took power. Dr Peter Carter is quoted in the Mirror saying: “We’re working to find savings so they’ll be reinvested. Sadly, this isn’t happening.”2012-11-01http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/october_2012/wednesday_31_octoberThe Daily Telegraph reports that almost three-quarters of nurses believe that NHS job cuts are having a negative effect on their work, according to a survey by Unison. The survey of more than 3,000 nurses found that fewer than 10% felt they could deliver safe, dignified, compassionate care all of the time, due to a rise in the number of patients coupled with a fall in the number of staff to care for them. P.9. Hospital refused loan by the government to pay off debts2012-10-31http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/october_2012/tuesday_30_octoberThe Independent reports that NHS organisations could go bankrupt under government health reforms, and ministers have failed to clarify what will happen if they do, according to a new report. The House of Commons public accounts committee has accused the Department of Health of "inventing rules and processes on the hoof" to deal with hospital trusts in financial difficulty. The report claims that NHS bodies reported a surplus of £2.1bn in 2011-12. However, it highlighted significant variations: Ten NHS trusts, 21 foundation trusts and three primary care trusts have reported a combined deficit of £356m. The Independent also contains an editorial.2012-10-30http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/october_2012/saturday_27-monday_29_octoberThe Times reports that a failing London hospital trust should be broken up to stem multi-million pound losses, a report will recommend today. South London Healthcare Trust, which amassed debts of £150 million, became the first NHS Trust to be put into administration earlier this year.2012-10-29http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/october_2012/friday_26_octoberLiverpool Care Pathway: The Daily Mail reports the use of what they describe as “targeted payments” by some NHS trusts to place patients on the Liverpool Care Pathway. Critics argue that the payments may adversely influence decisions about which patients should be placed on the pathway, but the Department of Health defended the use of targets to improve care and support offered to dying people. They add that the pathway can only be used when the patient is fully consulted where possible and the family are involved in all aspects of the decision making. An editorial in the paper criticises the practice and calls for ministers to end it.2012-10-26http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/october_2012/thursday_25_octoberDementia care The Daily Telegraph reports comments in a speech today by Jeremy Hunt on dementia care. Mr Hunt will pledge an extra £50 million to be made available to NHS trusts, local councils and care groups to make care homes and hospital wards calmer environments for patients with Alzheimer’s. He has called for England to become one of the best countries in Europe to be old. He is also expected to suggest that dementia patients face “scandalous” care and unfair discrimination. He will say that patients can be at risk of being “criminally abused” or given a “chemical cosh” to keep them quiet.2012-10-25http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/october_2012/wednesday_24_octoberThe Guardian reports a coalition largely made up of Catholic doctors has issued a letter this week stating that some patients with terminal cancer "may survive months or more if not put on the Liverpool Care Pathway". The letter was a response to a "consensus statement" published last month by 22 leading medical groups, including the Royal College of General Practitioners, Age UK and the Royal College of Nursing, which supported the use of the LCP. The Daily Mail has printed a letter from a reader criticising the Liverpool Care Pathway.2012-10-24http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/october_2012/tuesday_23_octoberThe Times reports that the children's heart surgery units was given hope yesterday when Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt ordered a review into a decision to streamline paediatric heart services. Jeremy Hunt has asked the Independent Reconfiguration Panel to reassess the decision to close units at Leeds General Infirmary, Glenfield Hospital, Leicester and Royal Brompton in Chelsea.2012-10-23http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/october_2012/saturday_20-monday_22_octoberToday’s Daily Telegraph reports that police are being called on to open new investigations into the abuse at the Winterbourne View care home, following claims that victims are still being “denied justice”. The call comes as it was disclosed that at least one former staff member involved in a violent incident is still registered to work as a nurse. Eleven former carers are due to be sentenced this week for the neglect and ill treatment for people with learning difficulties at Winterbourne View care home. P.10.2012-10-22http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/october_2012/friday_19_octoberEuropean nurses The Daily Express reports that Northampton General Hospital Trust has been holding recruitment fairs abroad despite the loss of posts. Dr Peter Carter is quoted in the article saying: “It’s very concerning that the NHS is filling posts by hiring nurses from abroad at a time when nursing posts are being lost due to budget cuts. Clearly there is a need for more nurses, so why is investment in training being reduced?” An editorial in the paper says that curing the nursing shortage should be new Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt’s top priority.2012-10-19http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/october_2012/thursday_18_octoberDaily ward rounds: A Guardian Healthcare Network article writes about the importance of ward rounds, and mentions the RCN and the Royal College of Physicians report ‘Ward Rounds in Medicine: Principles for best practice.’ The article writes that reforming ward round practice will require well-established behaviours to be challenged, and strong medical and nursing leadership. The article also states that high-quality care often stems from getting the basics right, and well organized, multidisciplinary ward rounds are central to achieving that aim.2012-10-18http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/october_2012/wednesday_17_octoberWater and food in hospitals: The Daily Mirror reports that hospitals will be inspected to ensure patients are getting enough water to prevent deaths from dehydration. New Department of Health guidelines, part of a package of measures on nutrition announced over the weekend, will guarantee patients get access to water 24 hours a day. Dr Peter Carter is quoted as saying: “Water is vital in staying healthy and in recovering from illness. These guidelines should encourage trusts to make it readily available."2012-10-17http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/october_2012/tuesday_16_octoberPressure sores can be treated by electric underwear: The Guardian reports on research by a Canadian doctor who believes pressure sores can be prevented by wearing underwear which delivers an electric shock every ten minutes, stimulating the muscles and countering the effects of being immobile for long periods. Dr Peter Carter is quoted as saying: “Pressure ulcers are not only very painful and distressing: they cost the NHS up to £2 billion a year to treat. If new technology can help and is cost effective then nurses will welcome that. However, this must not be a substitute for having the right number of well-trained staff on a ward.”2012-10-16http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/october_2012/saturday_13-monday_15_octoberNew standards for hospital food and drink The Sun on Sunday reports the Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, has introduced new standards to ensure that NHS patients get nutritious and appetising food while in hospital. Former patients will be among teams carrying out checks on kitchens and wards. Dr Peter Carter was quoted in The Independent on Sunday, as saying: "Hospital food can often have a very significant impact on the speed of recovery, susceptibility to infection and mental and physical well-being. Hospital food doesn't just need to be healthy - it also needs to be fresh and enticing enough to tempt patients who may not feel hungry. Giving patients the ability to choose their food is a welcome move, which already works well at many hospitals." He was also interviewed on LBC Radio yesterday discussing the standards.2012-10-15http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/october_2012/friday_12_octoberThe Mirror reports that around 1,500 NHS workers may have pay cut or frozen for not attending appraisals or training, even if it’s not their fault. The RCN is quoted in the article saying: “It’s fundamentally wrong to penalise staff for management failings.” The report also mentions Central Manchester Hospitals Foundation Trust’s attempt to stop pay rises for workers who had been off sick, which was defeated by the RCN at a tribunal.2012-10-12http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/october_2012/thursday_11_octoberThe Sun reports that a new group, backed by the RCN, is hoping to overhaul the recruitment of students.2012-10-12http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/october_2012/wednesday_10_octoberThe Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt focussed on care for the elderly in his speech to the Conservative Party Conference yesterday. Mr Hunt praised NHS staff including “many committed managers in hospitals and care homes” but warned managers that they would be held responsible for failings in care.2012-10-12http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/october_2012/tuesday_9_octoberThe Care Quality Commission has begun an inspection into breast cancer screening, pathology and clinical governance at Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. The inspection comes as 79 women are being recalled relating to test results from breast tissue biopsies. Monitor has also announced that it is taking regulatory action to ensure that the Trust has strong leadership.2012-10-09http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/october_2012/saturday_6-monday_8_octoberWards in a fifth of NHS hospitals face cuts Saturday’s Daily Telegraph reports that emergency departments, maternity wards, paediatric units and other services are under threat at up to a fifth of NHS hospitals in England. One in 10 accident and emergency departments has either closed recently or could shut in the near future, while a similar proportion of maternity wards are at risk. Dr Peter Carter is quoted as saying: “The RCN would support reconfiguration providing the plans did not represent a "short-term, ill thought-out closure to save money".2012-10-08http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/october_2012/tuesday_02_octoberThe Daily Mail reports on yesterday’s story in The Times that more than a million people are addicted to tranquillisers prescribed by their doctor. Dr Peter Carter is quoted as saying: The NHS should accept it has a part to play on treating the side-effects of a drug which was originally prescribed with the best intentions.2012-10-02http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/september_2012/saturday_29_september_-_monday_1_octoberNHS hospitals are now revising the decisions to cut nursing posts because staff shortages in wards are putting patients at risk. Thousands of posts have been cut since the government was elected two years ago. Dr Peter Carter was quoted as saying: “Nurses know what happens if their numbers are slashed. It is patients who lose out as staff are stretched to breaking point. Trusts are now finding that their nurses were right”. The People, P22012-10-01http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/september_2012/wednesday_26_septemberNursing numbers falls by almost 6,000 The number of nurses and midwives working in the NHS has fallen by almost 6,000 in two years, according to figures from the NHS Information Centre. Since April 2010 the number of qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff has fallen by 5,748. Between May and June this year 840 posts were lost. Dr Peter Carter was quoted in The Daily Telegraph, Independent Online, Press Association, Daily Mirror and The Sun. He said: "One nurse being taken off a ward or out of a community nursing team can make a huge difference to the time the rest of the team can spend with patients. A reduction on this scale, happening over a short period of time, is something that the NHS as a whole will struggle to adapt to”.2012-09-26http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/september/tuesday_25_septemberThe Guardian has an online piece looking at the state of nursing. It references the RCN’s ‘This is Nursing’ initiative and states that “the vast majority of nurses are capable and committed.” It adds: “It does take a remarkable person to be a good nurse.”2012-09-25http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/september_2012/wednesday_19_septemberMinisters should end national pay bargaining and public sector workers should negotiate their salaries individually, says some of Britain’s senior economists in an open letter to The Times. The academics say national pay bargaining is worsening public services and making it harder for the private sector to recruit workers in many areas. The letter has been signed by professors from Cambridge University, the London School of Economics Warwick, York and Birmingham universities.2012-09-19http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/september_2012This is Nursing coverage There is continued coverage following yesterday’s launch of ‘This Nursing.’ The BBC and Daily Mail have both embedded the This is nursing film on their websites and Channel 4 News have also put a story online. The Sun today carries a half page opinion piece from ward sister Rachel Armstrong about what it means to be a nurse and features one of the tube ads. Janet Davies was interviewed live yesterday on Sky News about the initiative and the Guardian Associate Editor Michael White refers to the campaign as part of an online article about the future of the NHS. Please find below a link to the ‘This is nursing’ website, which gives a round-up of all media coverage, including trade, regional and country.2012-09-18http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/september_2012/saturday_15-_monday_17_septemberThe RCN’s ‘This is nursing’ initiative has been launched today, with the bus advertising campaign appearing on more than 1000 buses across the UK. Today’s Times carries an interview with Dr Peter Carter discussing the initiative. The article focuses on the strand of work concerning staffing levels and the care of older people. He is quoted saying: “What we have not done as a society and as a health service is to meet the challenges of caring for older people... You’ve got this huge rise in the elderly population and the system is not coping with it. It’s a shocking indictment of the United Kingdom in the 21st century...I don’t believe staff want it to be like that — quite the opposite. We simply haven’t woken up to the facts.” The article then links to the This is nursing website and says that the advertising campaign aimed to ‘get some sense of balance’ in the way the public viewed nursing. BBC News Online talks about the campaign quotes Dr Peter Carter extensively. He says: "What we are doing today is showing the reality of nursing and how it takes both professionalism and compassion to be a nurse. It's time to celebrate the outstanding work nurses do on a daily basis, often in extremely difficult situations. We have all read the critical coverage of the nursing profession and we would never shy away from the cases of poor care when they exist." Dr Peter Carter was interviewed by BBC Radio 4’s Today programme and BBC Radio 5 Live. BBC Breakfast also did a package including the This is nursing film and interview with Dr Peter Carter2012-09-17http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/september_2012/wednesday_12_septemberThe TUC has voted to look into the "practicalities" of organising a "general strike", in protest at government spending cuts. This would be the first general strike in the UK since 1926 and could involve 6 million workers. The Daily Mail reported that Ed Balls, Shadow Chancellor was heckled by union activists yesterday at the TUC conference. The Guardian contains a comment piece suggesting that the trade unions are not strong enough.2012-09-12http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/september_2012/tuesday_11_septemberThe Evening Standard contains an article on careers in the health service. RCN Careers Adviser, Cathy Taylor, gives advice to nurses looking for jobs. She says: “Don’t just look at jobs in acute hospitals-look at community services too, such as rehabilitation or reablement services, or with district nurse teams. Newly qualified nurses should keep in close touch with tutors so they know when suitable jobs are released”. P73 Teachers set for industrial action over pay2012-09-11http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/september_2012/saturday_8-_monday_10_septemberLitigation bill The Sunday Telegraph and The Sunday Times report that the growth of a litigation culture is draining hospitals and schools of money, putting an unnecessary strain on the NHS. This is the suggestion of a new report published by the Centre for Policy Studies. Payouts made by the NHS have trebled over the past decade to reach £1.33 billion.2012-09-10http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/september_2012/wednesday_5_septemberCabinet reshuffle: There is widespread coverage today on yesterday’s announcement of a cabinet reshuffle, which included Jeremy Hunt replacing Andrew Lansley as the Secretary of State for Health. Andrew Lansley is becoming Leader of the House of Commons. Dr Peter Carter was quoted on BBC News Online. He said: “The RCN has not seen eye to eye with Lansley on the government's health reforms. However, we have welcomed the continuous dialogue between Mr Lansley and RCN members during his time as health spokesman and as secretary of state. The RCN will now be looking to work with incoming Secretary of State Jeremy Hunt, to ensure that the nursing voice is heard." Dr Carter was also interviewed on his reaction on the BBC news channel talking about the challenges facing the incoming Secretary of State. Many papers including the Daily Telegraph and The Guardian analyse Jeremy Hunt’s promotion in the reshuffle.2012-09-05http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/september_2012/tuesday_4th_septemberNurses are being forced to clean toilets and mop hospital floors on top of their patient care duties, according to a survey of 1,000 nurses and health assistants by Nursing Times. More than half of NHS nurses surveyed believed cleaning services for their ward were inadequate, while around a fifth said their hospital trust had made cuts to cleaning services in the last year. RCN Infection Control Adviser Rose Gallagher, told the Nursing Times: "This is not about saying nurses are too posh to wash. Cleaning in hospitals is not the same as cleaning your own home”. Rose’s comments were picked up the Daily Mirror, The Daily Mail, BBC News Online, The Daily Telegraph and The Sun2012-09-04http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/september_2012/saturday_1-monday_3_septemberBMA Chair of council interview: Saturday’s Guardian reports that the new BMA Chair of Council, Mark Porter, has warned that NHS is putting patients' health at risk by denying them drugs and operations because of growing rationing being imposed to save money. In his first interview since taking up the post Mark Porter said the NHS was offering fewer and fewer services to patients and that many had been “cut out”, often against doctors’ wishes. He also named Nye Bevan, the chief architect of the National Health Service, as being among his political heroes. He also suggests that there is no evidence that a part-privatised NHS runs better.2012-09-03http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/august/friday_31_augustThe Times reports on figures from the Health and Social Care Information Centre, analysed by the Health Service Journal which show that almost one in ten patients is harmed while in NHS care and in some areas this rises to one in five. The figures relate to issues covered by the NHS Safety Thermometer, which measures avoidable problems such as falls, blood clots and bed sores. Dr Peter Carter commented: “Trusts need to heed the warnings that this data gives them, and ensure that there are enough staff and resources to keep patients from suffering avoidable harm.”2012-08-31http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/august_2012/wednesday_22_augustAlmost 5,000 nurses have left the NHS since May 2010, while the number of doctors has risen by 3,700, according to figures from the Health and Social Care Information Centre. Labour has blamed the drop on government cuts. Dr Peter Carter is quoted in The Guardian, The Independent online and Press Association saying: “For two years now, our Frontline First campaign has exposed the slash-and-burn approach taken by some NHS trusts. It simply isn’t right to suggest that you can take these posts away without damaging patient care”.2012-08-22http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/august_2012/tuesday_21_augustNHS services to be sold around the world: The Department of Health has announced that the NHS brand is to be sold around the world and the profits ploughed back into Britain's hospitals, under plans to help the health service become more commercial. This Autumn the Department of Health and UK Trade and Investment will jointly launch an agency charged with bringing together the NHS and potential clients overseas2012-08-21http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/august_2012/saturday_18-monday_20_augustToday’s Guardian reports that the number of older people living with cancer will more than treble by 2040. Macmillian Cancer Support warns of a “ticking time bomb” for society if the NHS and social care systems are not geared up to help them in time.2012-08-20http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/august_2012/wednesday_15_augustRise in patients left waiting in A&E units: Data from the Department of Health has revealed that almost 67,000 patients waited up to 12 hours on hospital trolleys in accident and emergency units before getting a bed - an increase of almost a third - during the first half of 2012. The figures were revealed in a Nursing Times /HSJ investigation which assessed trusts using the old "trolley wait" target used by the Government in the early 2000s. A quote by Tim Curry, RCN assistant head of nursing, in The Nursing Times was picked up The Daily Mail and The Daily Mirror. He blamed the rise on a "perfect storm" of financial pressures, and distractions caused by NHS reforms.2012-08-15http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/august_2012/saturday_11-_monday_13_augustThe Mail on Sunday reports that Professor Norman Williams, president of the Royal College of Surgeons, is backing a drive to close accident and emergency units, claiming the move will save lives. He said creating specialists centres of excellence would mean that patients would have to travel further but would improve levels of care. The Mail on Sunday editorial reflects on whether such a move would be good for patients.2012-08-13http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/august_2012/wednesday_9_augustWinterbourne View report: An independent case review into abuse at the Winterbourne View care home in South Gloucestershire has been critical of local health services and police. The owners of the home, health regulators, local health services and police were all criticised for failing to act on increasing warning signs of institutional abuse by staff at the care home. The Daily Telegraph contains a comment piece, which is particularly critical of the regulator, The Care Quality Commission.2012-08-08http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/august_2012/tuesday_7_augustThe Daily Mail reports a pill costing £1.40-a-day that could save the lives of thousands suffering from a common heart condition is set to be approved for NHS use. The drug ivabradine slows heart rate and improves its pumping ability, with data showing it cuts deaths by at least 17 per cent. year.html2012-08-07http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/august_2012/saturday_4-monday_6_augustNurses care for 15 patients at a time: The Sunday Telegraph, Daily Express and The Daily Mirror report on a study, carried out by Kings College London at 46 NHS hospitals, which found nurses have an average of 11 patients but as many as 15 to look after at night and eight by day. Janet Davies, of the Royal College of Nursing, was quoted in The Sunday Telegraph, The Daily Express and Daily Mirror saying: "When there aren't enough nurses it has a huge impact on the quality of care for patients. They are left unsupervised for far too long and it is harder to provide compassionate care”. The Sunday Telegraph also mentions that the RCN wants regulation of health care assistants so that they cannot make up more than 35 per cent of nursing staff on any ward. Howard Catton, RCN head of policy and international was also interviewed live last night on LBC radio discussing the study. The Daily Express also ran an editorial on the study.(p.12)2012-08-06http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/august_2012/wednesday_1_augustMore media coverage following on from yesterday’s story in The Guardian on nurses cleaning wards in place of cleaners. The Daily Mirror and The Guardian quote Janet Davies saying: “Nursing staff are already over-stretched and should not be taken away from patient care. Reports of trusts not being able to hire cleaners owing to financial constraints are worrying. We will be seeking an urgent meeting with Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust to discuss this further." The Daily Mirror also carries a leader piece.2012-08-01http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/july_2012/tuesday_31_julyNurses clean wards as cover for cleaners: The Guardian reports that nurses have been asked to clean wards because there is "not sufficient funding to provide a 24/7 cleaning service" at an indebted hospital. According to board papers posted online last week, nursing staff at Mid Yorkshire Hospitals trust have been forced to clear up in acute and general admission wards in part because at one site "two days a week [cleaners are] not provided" - despite warnings that this would divert them from patient care.2012-07-31http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/july_2012/saturday_28-monday_30_julyThere were widespread reports on Saturday on the tribute to the NHS in the Olympic opening ceremony. The ceremony featured hundreds of nurses and staff and patients from Great Ormond Street Hospital. Janet Davies was quoted by Press Association as saying: “As well as celebrating the best of sport, the Games are a celebration of the best of Britain and this firmly includes NHS workers. We are delighted that nurses will play a prominent role in the Olympics, from appearing in the opening ceremony itself, to looking after the health needs of the millions visiting the Games.”2012-07-30http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/july_2012/wednesday_23_julyThere are 4,500 fewer nurses in the health service than two years ago, according to figures from the NHS Information Centre workforce statistics.The figures show that there were 4,661 fewer qualified nurses, midwives and health visitors in April 2012 than there were two years earlier, a total drop of 0.2%. Janet Davies, Executive Director, was quoted in The Daily Telegraph saying: “You can’t lose more than 4,500 nurses, midwives and health visitors without seriously damaging patient care”.2012-07-25http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/july_2012/tuesday_24_julyThe Daily Mail includes a feature article on the issue of dehydration in hospitals. The article highlights the case of Kane Gorny who died in hospital in May 2009. The piece mentions the Royal College of Nursing report, Water For Health, published five years ago, which warned that 'dehydration can cause rapid deterioration requiring complex, costly and invasive clinical interventions, with many patients suffering devastating long-term outcomes, resulting in loss of independence and dignity'. It also talks about the culture of hospital, where dehydration should be everyone’s business including senior staff.2012-07-24http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/july_2012/saturday_21-_monday_23_julyThe Mail on Sunday and BBC News reports that three NHS workers have been arrested over allegations that they assaulted vulnerable and frail older patients at Whipps Cross University Hospital in East London. The alarm was first raised by student nurses working on Beech Ward, one of several geriatric wards at the hospital. The piece mentions that the Royal College of Nursing has said that hospitals are diluting skills mix to help meet savings targets.2012-07-23http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/july_2012/wednesday_18_julyFormer executives taking control of commissioning boards: The Times reports that family doctors are being outnumbered by managers and other officials in the Government's reorganisation of local health spending, despite ministers' pledges to put GPs at the heart of its NHS reforms. The report by the medical newspaper Pulse suggests that former executives of primary care trusts and strategic health authorities are taking control of the new commissioning bodies. Nurses also appear to have been marginalised claiming just 65 board places. Dr Peter Carter said: “Without the expertise of senior experienced nurse, clinical commissioning groups are missing out on a voice which will help them to connect with patients and to represent their interests”.2012-07-18http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/july_2012/tuesday_17_julyTrust pays £2.5m in consultancy fees: The Daily Mirror reports that Mid Yorkshire NHS Trust has spent almost £2.5million in consultancy fees while asking staff to take pay cuts. The trust hired the firms whose job it was to advise on how to save money by cutting services. P.222012-07-17http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/july_2012/wednesday_4_julyQuality of end of life care: The quality of NHS end of life care is good but choice is still lacking, according to a survey of bereaved people published by the Office for National Statistics. Around 22,000 people responded to the first ever survey that measured care leading up to death. There were high levels of satisfaction with hospices, but hospitals, where most died, had the lowest ratings for care with dignity and respect. Dr Peter Carter’s comment was published in The Daily Express. He said: “There is only one chance to get end-of-life care right. The RCN is supporting nurses to develop themselves in this area”.2012-07-04http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/july_2012/tuesday_3_julyPatients are being let down by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) because of "failings at every level", according to a review by the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence (CHRE). The independent review gives details of the NMC's backlog of complaints against nurses and midwives. Dr Peter Carter was quoted in The Daily Telegraph, The Times and BBC News Online saying: “We know that many of our members have been losing confidence in the regulator for some time. We have always stated that the public, patients and the nursing profession need to have an effective, fit-for-purpose regulator which can effectively uphold professional standards “. A Daily Mail article examines the role of the Nursing and Midwifery Council and criticises its administration system.2012-07-03http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/june_2012/wednesday_27_junelowing on from yesterday’s news that South London Healthcare NHS Trust is being put in ‘special measures’ over £150m deficit, the media today are reporting that least at another 21 trusts identified by the government are facing financial difficulties. The Department of Health considered the hospitals to be “clinically and financially unsustainable” and in need of radical restructuring. The RCN responded by saying: “The Trust has been facing financial challenges for quite some time under the burden of PFI contracts. Despite this, staff have continued to do their best for patients, providing high levels of care. Nevertheless, the current issues must be addressed as a matter of urgency as the Trust simply cannot continue to run at such a large deficit.” The Daily Mail and The Daily Telegraph reported that South London NHS Trust spent more than £1 million on a consultant offering moneysaving advice. A previous comment by Dr Peter Carter is published in The Daily Mail and The Daily Telegraph. He said: “The trust needs to justify why it paid an interim finance director this much when nurses and other NHS staff are seeing frontline services cut, workloads increased and pay frozen”. The Daily Telegraph comment piece criticises the failures of the Private Finance Initiative. The Mirror leader piece says the Health Secretary Andrew Lansley must not let a hospital go bankrupt or cut staff. The Independent published a feature piece on the financial crisis hospitals are facing. There is also an opinion piece by Christina Patterson agreeing with Stephen Dorrell’s suggestion that we need to shift away from an over-dependence on hospitals into improved services in the community. She suggests that we need more community matrons, GPs, support workers and clinics that do their very best to keep you healthy and fit at home.2012-06-27http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/june_2012/tuesday_26_juneNHS trust to be put in ‘special measures’ over £150m debt: There is widespread coverage today on South London Healthcare NHS Trust being put under the control of a special administrator. Queen Mary's in Sidcup, Queen Elizabeth in Woolwich and the Princess Royal University Hospital in Bromley have become the first to be declared financially unsustainable after the NHS trust that runs them accumulated a deficit of £150m. Managers at South London Healthcare NHS Trust, which runs the hospitals, were told by the Health Secretary that they would be put into its "unsustainable provider’s regime". This will mean the appointment of a special administrator with NHS expertise, along with the suspension of the trust's non-executive directors. The Times references the RCN’s Frontline First figures that the trust plans to cut staff by 23 per cent by 2015, while the GMB union said that the three hospitals might be merged into two.2012-06-26http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/june_2012/saturday_23_-_monday_25_juneToday’s Daily Mail and Daily Telegraph reports on an inquiry by the Care Quality Commission that has found that hundreds of vulnerable adults are being put at risk of abuse at residential homes and care institutions. The report shows just 48 per cent of hospitals and care homes comply with 'essential' standards on the care and welfare of people with learning difficulties; and safeguarding them from abuse. The Care Quality Commission ordered 150 inspections following a Panorama investigation which found residents at a private care home Winterbourne View, were being mistreated.2012-06-25http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/june_2012/tuesday_20_juneDoctors’ industrial action: There is widespread coverage on the industrial action taking place tomorrow by doctors in protest over pensions. The Daily Telegraph reports that The Royal College of Nursing have issued guidance to nurses on what to do tomorrow when the doctors take industrial action. Dr Peter Carter said: “nurses “empathise” with doctors’ frustrations. “We do not want to see any shunting of workload onto another professional group or onto nurses”. There are some reports that patients are facing a “day of confusion” with up to one million cancelled appointments as doctors refuse to treat non-urgent patients. The level of confusion is reflected in reports that a number of NHS trusts will not be docking the pay of doctors that are taking industrial action because of difficulty in calculating how much to deduct. There are also comment pieces in The Times and The Daily Express.2012-06-20http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/june_2012/tuesday_19_juneementia care: RCN Dementia Project Manager, Rachel Thompson, was interviewed yesterday on You and Yours on BBC Radio 4. She was discussing care for people with dementia, focussing on end of life care.2012-06-19http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/june_2012/saturday_16-monday_18_juneAgenda for Change The Sunday Mirror reports on proposed changes to Agenda for Change terms and conditions that could mean only nurses rated as “excellent” will receive their annual increments. Dr Peter Carter is quoted as saying: “Nurses won’t stand for this. It is completely unacceptable.” He also said that “There is no evidence that performance improves as a direct result of pay incentives and this measure smacks of cost cutting. At a time when nurses are already two years into a pay freeze and facing huge hikes in pension and registration payments, this is completely unacceptable.”2012-06-18http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/june_2012/wednesday_13_juneOne in three care homes not inspected in past year: Almost 4,000 residential homes for older people have not been inspected for at least a year, according to The Care Quality Commission. Figures show that 62 per cent of the 10,000 care homes in England had been visited by inspectors in the past 12 months. The Care Quality Commission announced in April that it was planning to increase the number of inspections to once-a-year to tighten up standards.2012-06-13http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/june_2012/tuesday_12_juneNHS public satisfaction survey: Public satisfaction with the way that the NHS performs has fallen, according to a survey by British Social Attitudes. The fall was from 70 per cent satisfaction in 2010 to 58 per cent in 2011. The drop was the biggest fall in one year since the survey began in 1983. The Sun has published a leader piece. The RCN commented on the survey. Dr Peter Carter said: “These findings are disappointing but not surprising. Over the past couple of years we have seen tens of thousands of posts stripped out of the health service. Staff are working under huge amounts of stress and pressure. This is a particular issue in accident and emergency settings and sadly we have heard many cases of patients being regularly treated on corridors. The RCN has consistently said that the programme of huge reform coming at a time as the service in England struggles to save £20 billion will have negative consequences. This survey now bears this out and the Government will have to sit up and take notice of these findings”.2012-06-12http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/april_2011/wednesday_06_aprilThe Guardian contains a comment piece by Jacky Davis, co-chair of the NHS Consultants Association. She criticises the idea of GP commissioning saying it could skew a doctor's view of their patient, making them a consortium cost rather than a person. The piece mentions that the Royal College of Nursing, the Royal College of GPs and the BMA have also recently called for the proposals for the new NHS bill to be withdrawn. A comment piece in The Daily Express by Ann Widdecombe says, that David Cameron should push ahead with the NHS reform and Simon Jenkins from The Evening Standard also says that David Cameron and Nick Clegg must have the courage to reorganise the NHS. The Times reports that Andrew Lansley will be given the public backing of both David Cameron and Nick Clegg today, as the leaders make clear that they trust the Health Secretary to force through all necessary changes to his NHS reform plans. A comment piece in The Times says the proposed reforms are all about structures and systems, but they miss what really matters is the attitude of the staff. Dr Peter Carter was interviewed last night on Channel 5 News about the reforms.2011-04-06http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/april_2011/tuesday_05_aprilThe media continue to report on the Government’s plans to pause on the health reforms. The Times reports Health Secretary Andrew Lansley promised yesterday to "pause, listen and engage", as he tried to fight of criticism over his health reform plans. However, no substantial changes in direction are expected, with health sources suggesting the Bill will still be back in the Commons by the middle of June, only about two weeks later than expected under the previous timetable. In a report published today, the all-party Commons Health Select Committee demanded significant changes to the plans to hand 60 per cent of the NHS budget to GPs. Dr Peter Carter is quoted as saying: “We have long said that no single profession can have sole responsibility for commissioning healthcare, and without a mix of healthcare professionals, including nurses, we believe that the new model of commissioning will fail.” The Guardian says that Andrew Lansley has accepted that membership of new GP-led commissioning consortia should be expanded. He will agree today with the broad principles of proposals made by the health select committee. In a separate article a number of experts offer their opinion on what the Government should do regarding its planned NHS reforms. The Financial Times report the Commons health select committee has recommended that Andrew Lansley should drop plans for GP consortiums to buy care, instead creating NHS commissioning authorities with representation from doctors, nurses, social care staff and local government officials. The Daily Telegraph has also published a Q&A on the health reforms, which mentions that the RCN have pointed to job losses occurring in the NHS.2011-04-05http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/april_2011/saturday_2-_monday_4_aprilNHS paying £120an hour for agency nurses: The Sunday Mirror reports NHS hospitals are paying more than £120 an hour for private agency nurses, and private firms are charging as up to £1,200 for a single shift. Dr Peter Carter said: "This is just another example in a long list of a failure to manage NHS finances, which both costs the taxpayer and affects the quality of care. This is often an expensive and short-sighted way of ensuring safe staffing levels. At a time when the NHS in England is having to make £20 billion in efficiency savings spending like this unacceptable”.2011-04-04http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/march_2010/tuesday_29_marchThe Daily Mail’s GP, Dr Martin Scurr looks at the issue of bed sores and standards of care in hospitals. Dr Peter Carter comments at the Mid Staffordshire inquiry are mentioned. He said: “Where you have a high incidence of pressure sores that is definitely an indicator that something is fundamentally wrong”.2011-03-29http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/march_2010/saturday_26-_monday_28_marchA number of papers this weekend reported on the TUC march against public service cuts. More than 100,000 people, including hundreds of RCN members took part in the march to voice their protest against cuts that are currently taking place across all areas of public services. Dr Peter carter was interviewed on Sky News, on why nurses were marching and their concerns. Vince Cable, Business secretary has said the government is listening to the trade unions but will not change its deficit-cutting strategy because of Saturday’s march. The Financial Times reported that Ed Milliband, Labour leader, took a political risk by joining the rally.2011-03-28http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/march_2010/wednesday_23_marchFigures in the NHS workforce census show a rise in the number of staff working for the NHS in England over the past decade. Over the past year the number of managers has fallen by 2,770 while the number of clinical staff rose by 2,707. However, unions fear that hospitals are starting to cut jobs to save money and that the number of nurses and doctors will now start to fall. Dr Peter Carter is quoted in The Daily Telegraph saying: “These figures mask the reality of what is happening on the ground. Despite the rhetoric of protecting healthcare services, we know that tens of thousands of NHS posts are earmarked to be cut and that nurses and healthcare assistants are being stretched to breaking point”2011-03-23http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/march_2010/tuesday_22_marchThe Daily Mirror Online carries a video of three RCN members and Janet Davies handing in a letter orgainsed by the RCN. Over 22,000 people have co- signed the letter asking Chancellor George Osborne to protect the NHS from cuts. The Evening Standard and The Metro also carried the same photo.2011-03-22http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/march_2010/wednesday_16_marchThe number of European nurses registering to work in Britain has almost doubled since registration rules were relaxed by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). Before the rules were relaxed, all nurses were required to have practised for 450 hours in the previous three years to join the register. Howard Catton, Head of Policy said: “There is a risk that we have created a public protection black hole. The regulator and employers need to work together to monitor the skills and qualifications of nurses that are coming in from European countries, and produce assurances that these are kept up to date”.2011-03-16http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/march_2010/tuesday_15_marchDoctors are to debate toughening their opposition to the government's plans to overhaul the NHS in England. Some 350 delegates will come together today to attend an emergency meeting of the British Medical Association (BMA) amid grassroots anger about the plans which could see increased competition. BMA leader Dr Hamish Meldrum said doctors were worried about the "very dangerous" plans. The Department of Health said it wanted to "work closely" with the BMA and was committed to the future of the NHS.2011-03-15http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/march_2010/saturday_12-_monday_14_marchThe NHS will be unable to cope with patients suffering from long-term illnesses like diabetes and asthma unless there is radical reform, the Health Secretary has warned. Andrew Lansley said the NHS must change, including providing more support to keep people out of hospital which would help to save money. Dr Peter Carter said the NHS reforms are leading to thousands of job cuts, including among nurses who specialise in long-term conditions. He added “"We need more investment and support for specialist nurses and others who care for these patients in a range of settings. We hear from nurses who are already too busy to provide the high-quality care that they would like to. Despite this we know of tens of thousands of NHS jobs being cut which will leave the most vulnerable patients at risk. We agree with the Government's diagnosis, however we are not sure about their prescription2011-03-14http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/march_2010/wednesday_2_marchhe Guardian reports that under the health and social care bill, which is going through parliament, GP practices could be partially floated on the stock market. In documents obtained by Channel 4 news and passed to the Guardian, one private health firm, IHP, proposes that the commissioning budget for patients be handed over to a private company in which family doctors would own a 20% stake. The Department of Health said a national commissioning board and regulator would prevent perceived or potential conflicts of interest. Dr Peter Carter said he did not "want perverse incentives [being created] for the leaders of the new consortiums to underspend. It would send out mixed messages to NHS staff if they are seeing cuts in frontline services in one part of the NHS and bonuses elsewhere”.2011-03-02http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/march_2010/tuesday_1_marchEvening Standard feature about the work of health visitors, and how plans to recruit thousands more will have major impact on lives of families with young children. Dr Peter Carter is quoted saying: “It is well known that health visitors make a significant impact on the health of young children and families”.2011-03-01http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/february_2011/saturday_26-_monday_28_februaryThe Times report that NHS bosses are refusing extra pay for staff working on the day of the royal wedding, which has been declared a bank holiday. While police and other public sector will receive higher rates for working on April 29, NHS trusts in England will treat the national holiday as a normal working day. Josie Irwin, the RCN's head of employment relations, said: "Most people in England will have a day off and those who work will mostly be paid Bank Holiday rates”. All the NHS trade unions regard the employers’ position as mean-spirited.2011-02-28http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/february_2011/wednesday_23_februaryFalse Economy, a cuts campaign website supported by the TUC and a number of unions has revealed that more than 50,000 NHS staff posts are set to be cut by local health trusts across the UK. False Economy’s figures have been collated for the most part from NHS trusts themselves under the Freedom of Information Act but also include figures published by the RCN Frontline First campaign. They also used press reports and foundation trusts’ annual plans published by the national regulator Monitor. The RCN said the figures merely confirmed its own fears, adding that 27,000 posts NHS posts were earmarked in November. Dr Peter Carter is quoted in The Guardian, The Independent, The Daily Telegraph online and BBC News Online saying “We understand that the Government wants to protect front line services. However … our own research has established that the gap between the rhetoric of protecting the front line and what is actually happening locally in hospitals is increasing all the time”.2011-02-23http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/february_2011/tuesday_22_februaryPolly Toynbee in The Guardian today comments that the plans to open the NHS to more private sector operation is to be extended to other public services.2011-02-22http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/february_2011/saturday_19_-_monday_21_februaryAn opinion piece by Dr Peter Carter on NHS cuts was published in the News of the World Dr Peter Carter said: “The shocking job losses announced this week were more evidence that instead of being protected, the NHS faces some of the most severe cuts in its history. The RCN revealed in November that 27.000 NHs posts were set to be axed- but we now fear that was just the beginning. The idea that cutting 500 to 600 jobs from a hospital will not affect patient care is ludicrous”.2011-02-21http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/february_2011/tuesday_15_februaryA report from the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman today highlights ten examples of poor care given to older people in the NHS. The report looks at 10 cases which it said were inadequately investigated by the NHS, in which older men and women were treated badly, often towards the end of their lives. Dr Peter Carter is quoted widely in the newspapers saying: “There can be no hiding place for inhumane treatment or poor care. The overwhelming majority of nurses will join us in condemning the failures outlined by the Ombudsman. However, we know that the NHS is expected to save up to £20bn in England alone, and with 27,000 posts already earmarked to be lost there will be an impact on frontline care.”2011-02-15http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/february_2011/saturday_12_-_monday_14_februaryAlcohol abuse to cost NHS an extra £1.5 million by 2015: The number of people admitted to hospital in the UK because of problem drinking could rise to 1.5 million a year by 2015, according to a report, ‘Making Alcohol A Health Priority ‘by Alcohol concern. The report calls on ministers to invest more in treatment services and says a 50p a unit minimum price on drink will save thousands of lives.2011-02-14http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/february_2011/wednesday_9_februaryHealth Secretary Andrew Lansley is being pressured to delete provisions from the Health and Social Care Bill to prevent senior GPs, and managers of the new GP consortia which will start commissioning healthcare from 2013, receiving financial rewards if they do not spend the whole of their allocated annual budget. Dr Peter Carter said: “If a consortium makes a surplus, that it could be great. But there should be no question of it being put back into people’s pay packets or giving people bonuses. This is taxpayers’ money. Any surplus should be ploughed back into patient care, not extra pay and bonuses for those who are already reasonably well-paid”. Peter outlined his concerns to the MP’s on the cross-party commons health select committee. His call was supported by Dr Clare Gerada, Chair of the Royal College of GPs and John Healy, the shadow health secretary2011-02-09http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/february_2011/tuesday_8_februaryThe Times publishes a letter by eight leading health charities, including the British Heart Foundation, Alzheimer’s Society and Breakthrough Breast Cancer calling on MPs to make crucial changes to the Health and Social care bill to ensure the NHS will be answerable to everyone. They argue that plans to make GP consortia accountable to the public are far too weak and the proposed reforms do little to give patients a stronger voice at a local level.2011-02-08http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/february_2011/saturday_5_-_monday_7_februaryA RCN survey of 1,900 nurses found that fewer than one in ten nurses feel they have the right number of staff to deliver good quality care to patients. Most nurses believe poor staff staffing compromises patient safety. They say they are under mounting pressure in the face of job losses and recruitment freezes. Dr Peter Carter said: “The results of the survey act as reality check for those saying that cuts aren’t biting in the NHS. It is deeply worrying that some nurses are telling us they do not have enough staff to deliver quality care and that safety could be compromised”. The RCN has said 27,000 jobs could be cut at NHS trusts across England. The Daily Mail, The Daily Express, The Daily Telegraph and The Metro reported on the survey. Dr Peter Carter was interviewed on Sky News and on ITV Daybreak. Howard Catton was interviewed on BBC London radio and in a Sky News package.2011-02-07http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/february_2011/wednesday_2_februaryThe Daily Mirror reports that many health and medical organisations have serious concerns over the government’s health reform. The article notes that the RCN is one of the organisations and includes a quote from Dr Peter Carter: “It will be very important that none of the recent improvements to the NHS are placed in jeopardy. Of particular concern is the sheer scale and pace of the change as the NHS is tasked with saving £20 billion”.2011-02-02http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/february_2011/tuesday_1_februaryPlans to overhaul the NHS in England have passed their first Commons hurdle after a six-hour debate. Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said they would make the NHS "fit for the demands of the 21st Century". But Labour said "free market political ideology" was driving a plan that would break up the NHS. The bill was backed by 321 to 235 at second reading.2011-02-01http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/january_2011/saturday_29-_monday_31_januaryThe Times has published a comment piece by Dr Peter Carter ahead of the second reading of the Health and Social Care Bill. Dr Carter talks about how it is worrying at a time when the NHS is being challenged to make £20 billion of savings, the new commissioning process, led by consortia of GP practices, is silent on the role of nurses. He believes nurses play a vital role in giving vulnerable people a voice and the recent NHS reforms threatens their role. He concludes that the health bill needs to give nurses the voice to speak up for patients. David Cameron also comments on the need for his much-criticised NHS reforms. He states that nurses “will continue to play a vital role”.2011-01-31http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/january_2011/thursday_20_january_2011Health and Social Care Bill presented to Parliament: The Health and Social Care Bill was yesterday laid before Parliament detailing a number of proposals, including plans to give general practice consortia 80% of the health budget, encouragement of more competition with private companies, and an expansion of Monitor’s role. Andrew Lansley has said that the proposals would save £10 billion over the next decade. The Independent and The Times say that the RCN is concerned about the reforms while at the same time the NHS is being asked to save £20 billion. The Times quotes Dr Peter Carter who said, “The stakes could not be higher for this substantial Bill”. Janet Davies was also interviewed on the BBC News Channel on the subject. The Daily Express outlines concerns that hospitals will be more likely to pursue private patients rather than NHS patients if restrictions are lifted. Andrew Lansley has said that the savings would be “enough to pay for over 40,000 extra nurses or over 11,000 extra senior doctors”, while giving the NHS “a stable financial basis for the future.” The Financial Times contains a piece detailing the pros and cons of the Health and Social Care Bill and also an opinion piece on Health Service reforms. Tony Blair’s former health advisor, Julian Le Grand has come out in support of the reforms saying that they are “evolutionary, not revolutionary” and that they follow on logically from previous reforms.2011-01-20http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/january_2011/saturday_15-_monday_17_januaryHealth leaders warn: The Times has published a letter from medical and health professionals including Dr Hamish Meldrum of the British Medical Association, Dr Peter Carter of the Royal College of Nursing, Karen Jennings of Unison, Karen Reay of Unite, Professor Cathy Warwick of the Royal College of Midwives and Phil Gray of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, concerning the speed for reform in the NHS. The letter mentions they fear the speed and scale of the reforms, suggesting that the proposal to introduce price competition between the NHS and private companies risks undermining the care of patients by putting cost before quality. The letter accompanies an article in The Times, discussing the concerns over the NHS reforms. Peter Carter was interviewed by BBC News and Sky News. Health Secretary Andrew Lansley responded to the criticism with a letter saying how the NHS reforms will make sure attention is firmly focused on patients.2011-01-17http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/january_2011/wednesday_12_januaryhe Daily Mirror reports, 3,000 health workers have lost their jobs in a single week, according to figures by NHS pressure group Health Emergency. The Royal College of Nursing figure of nearly 27,000 posts earmarked for cuts is mentioned.2011-01-12http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/january_2011/tuesday_11_januaryThe RCN has said that rejection is the only logical outcome of proposals to freeze incremental pay for NHS staff in England. Dr Peter Carter also said that members have said loud and clear, that they are angry about the proposal, that it won’t work and that it is divisive. Last night, Unison announced that it was rejecting the proposals.2011-01-11http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/january_2011Sir Terence English, the surgeon who conducted Britain's first successful heart transplant and whose pioneering work has saved the lives of hundreds of people has joined the right-to-die campaign. The Independent notes that most medical organisations are opposed to doctors assisting suicide, while only the Royal College of Nursing is neutral on the issue.2011-01-10http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/december_2010/wednesday_22_decemberAccording to government figures more than 300 people are currently in intensive care with flu, the majority of whom are thought to have swine flu, although the exact number is unclear. New figures on the number of deaths from flu and swine flu will be released by the Health Protection Agency tomorrow. In The Daily Mirror Shadow Health Secretary John Healey has urged Andrew Lansley, Health Secretary to "get a grip" on the flu crisis.2010-12-22http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/december_2010/tuesday_21_decemberBBC Online article on how the snow is adding to the winter pressures on the NHS, causing staff shortages, record calls to ambulance services and dwindling blood supplies. The Royal College of Nursing said while winter planning had improved, this would be a testing time for the NHS. Some ambulance services are urging people to only call 999 for life threatening emergencies, and to avoid venturing out in cars. Meanwhile, the NHS is appealing for people to donate blood.2010-12-21http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/december_2010/monday_20_decembere Observer reports on a deal which would allegedly result in 35,000 nurses, cleaners and medical secretaries being made redundant unless staff accept a pay deal that could see them lose up to several thousand pounds a year. It is reported that the Department of Health’s own calculations means that the losses will happen if NHS staff in England reject a two-year freeze on their pay increments in return for no compulsory redundancies. Chief Executive & General Secretary of the RCN Dr Peter Carter is quoted as saying: “Nurses are are dealing with the effects of increased demand for health services at a time when 27,000 posts have already been identified as at risk. Nursing is the backbone of the NHS and government and employers need to be aware of the importance of morale. This winter is likely to be a major test for the NHS and the government." The Observer has also published an editorial calling for a halt to the proposed NHS reforms.2010-12-20http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/december_2010/wednesday_15_decemberDr Peter Carter was interviewed on BBC News 24 and Sky News on the RCN response to the House of Commons Health Select Committee report, which says the NHS and social service will be tested “to the limit” by the government’s efficiency saving requirements over the next four years. Dr Peter Carter challenged how the savings could be made without affecting patient care and services. He said the RCN had already identified 27,000 posts ear-marked for cuts. The Daily Telegraph and The Times carried Peter’s comments.2010-12-15http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/december_2010/tuesday_14_decemberThe NHS and social services will be tested "to the limit" by the government's efficiency saving requirements over the next four years, according to a report by the House of Commons Health Select Committee. The MP say the spending review settlement represented a "significant challenge" for the NHS. The report calls for the Department of Health to deliver a "credible plan" for where the efficiency gains will be made. Dr Peter Carter is expected to be interviewed on BBC News 24. We issued a response saying: “This report echoes our fear about the current efficiency challenges facing the NHS. We fully support the Committee’s view that efficiency savings should not be about cuts, but achieving more with the same amount of money. Sadly, with 27,000 posts already ear-marked for cuts, this message is clearly not reaching NHS Trusts. Some Trusts are already cutting jobs and services at an alarming rate, making short-sighted decisions to plug the gaps in their budget2010-12-14http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/december_2010/saturday_11-_monday_13_decemberCancer patients do not have regular support from specialist nurses, despite valuing them. Patients who had one-to- one support from specialist nurses had significant higher rates of satisfaction across all aspects of their care. The survey, commissioned by the Department of Health alongside a study showing that on-to-one support for cancer patients could save the NHS £89 million by reducing unnecessary hospital stays and GP visits. Dr Peter Carter is quoted in The Daily Mail saying: “Specialist nurses should be protected from short-term cutbacks with led to reductions five years ago. The government should heed the calls for patients and preserve the life-line which many rely on”.2010-12-13http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/december_2010/wednesday_8_decemberThe Royal College of Nursing has said that health orgainisation must priortise, plan and monitor their staffing levels to ensure safe care. New guidance on safe staffing levels also said that 40 per cent of nurses said that care was being compromised on at least a weekly basis due to short staffing. The report also showed there are currently eight patients per registered nurse across the NHS and the number has risen from seven patients per registered nurse in 2007. Dr Peter Carter is quoted in The Daily Telegraph and The Daily Mail saying: “We have seen time and again examples of failing care when poor staffing levels have been the key factor. With the NHS beds running near to capacity it is absolutely vital that staffing level are prioritised”. Howard Catton, Head of Policy was also quoted saying: “An example of compromised care was when a patient’s condition deteriorated, but there were too few staff to pick up on the change quickly”.2010-12-08http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/december_2010/tuesday_7_decemberThe Independent reports the Health Secretary Andrew Lansley will press ahead with NHS pilot schemes under which GPs will take charge of £80bn of the £100bn health budget for commissioning services for their patients. The scheme will be rolled out nationally from 2013 in changes that will eventually see the 152 PCTs disappear. However, the Treasury is thought to have reservations about the scheme. One Minister said: “The concern is whether it is the right time to make such a big change because the NHS is under pressure to make huge efficiency savings. There could be significant financial risks”.2010-12-07http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/december_2010/saturday_4-_monday_6_decemberThe number of patients becoming malnourished in hospital has doubled in just three years. Official figures show that a record 13,500 patients fell victim to some form of nutritional deficiency over the last year. Dr Peter Carter was quoted in The Daily Mail, saying: “These figures are a cause of concern as good nutrition is one of the fundamental elements to improving the health and well being of patients. Nurses want to ensure they can serve the nutritional needs of patients, however with 27,000 posts to be earmarked to be cut in the NHS, steps need to be taken now to provide safe staffing levels and the right level of skill to ensure nutrition is a priority in hospitals”.2010-12-06http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/november_2010/tuesday_30_novemberThere were almost 57,000 physical assaults on NHS staff last year - a rise of 3.6%, according to figures published by the NHS Security Management Service. Across England, there were 56,718 assaults in 2009/10, up from 54,758 in the previous year. 1,128 criminal sanctions were given out including cautions, prison sentence or fines. Dr Peter Carter was quoted in The Daily Mirror and The Daily Telegraph. He said: “Many trusts have worked very hard to reduce the levels of assaults against staff, however despite this there have been a staggering 57,000 assaults on staff in the last year. Assaults on staff are never justified but the worry is that if pressures increase and people wait longer the level of frustration will rise”. The Daily Telegraph (p12) and The Daily Mirror (p.14).2010-11-30http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/november_2010/saturday_27-_monday_29_novemberThe Dr Foster hospital guide, given exclusively to The Observer, shows that tens of thousands of patients may have died needlessly because of substandard NHS care. The guide identifies 19 NHS hospital trusts with significantly high death rates. The Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said the guide would provide information allowing people to make better choices about their treatment. The same report identified that blood clots that are largely preventable kill more people in English hospitals than superbugs. It is thought that blood clots kill more than 25,000 hospital patients a year. At least 10,000 are believed to die from superbugs such as MRSA. Dr Peter Carter was interviewed on Sunday afternoon on the BBC News Channel.2010-11-29http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/november_2010/wednesday_24_novemberMillions at risk of hospital blood clots as guidance ignored: Up to eight million NHS hospital patients may be at risk of life-threatening blood clots because guidelines are not being followed about their prevention, according to a report by the All-Party Parliamentary Thrombosis Group, which found that only 14 hospital trusts in England were even close to meeting guidelines. VTE prevention programme, a unique partnership between the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, the Royal College of Nursing and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society has been formed to help the NHS focus on better care to patients and to improve health outcomes."2010-11-24http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/november_2010/wednesday_10_novemberThe Daily Mirror reports the ultimate sacrifice of Britain's nurses in the world wars - to be honoured at a special ceremony this evening at The Royal College of Nursing headquarters in London. The roll of honour will bring together the 2,000 names of unsung heroines who died in battle or as result of war service. The roll of honour will be kept at the Royal College of Nursing's headquarters. It is part of a 10 year project by Edinburgh University Researcher Yvonne McEwan. Dr Peter Carter said: It’s about recognising the service and incredible bravery of these women”.2010-11-10http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/november_2010/saturday_6-_monday_8_novemberNHS chiefs to face hospital scandal inquiry: NHS chief executive Sir David Nicholson, medical director Professor Sir Bruce Keogh and the nursing director Christine Beasley, are all to give evidence to an inquiry into Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, where negligence is said to have caused the deaths of hundreds of patients. Martin Yeates, the former chief executive of Stafford Hospital, has claimed that he is also a victim of the scandal. In what was described as a "gross and terrible breach of trust", patients were left without food or drink and in soiled beds.2010-11-08http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/november_2010/tuesday_2_novemberStandards for the care of sick babies have not improved in England despite government action, according to the charity Bliss. They found services in special care baby units are still being stretched to the limit and not meeting minimum standards. Fewer than a third of neonatal units have enough nurses to meet minimum standards set by ministers and the NHS. Dr Peter Carter was interviewed on Daybreak on ITV1 speaking about the financial and emotional strain placed on families.2010-11-02http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/oct_2010/saturday_30_october_-_monday_1_novemberNearly 100 bereaved relatives and victims who suffered from appalling NHS care at Stafford hospital are to be paid a total of more than £1m, following Britain's largest ever group claim against a single hospital. In total, 97 families will receive compensation of up to £27,500 each. Yesterday an inspection report by Care Quality Commission revealed that the hospital was still failing to meet many standards of patient care, despite making progress.2010-11-01http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/oct_2010/wednesday_20_octoberAll the papers preview today’s Comprehensive Spending Review. The Daily Express says the scale of the government's austerity package will be laid bare today as one in 10 public-sector workers face losing their jobs. More than half-a-million posts will be slashed as the coalition unleashes its measures to drastically reduce the UK's budget deficit.2010-10-20http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/oct_2010/tuesday_19_octoberPatients visiting London hospitals are paying parking fees higher than the £4-an-hour cap set by the Department of Health. According to the survey conducted by parking website ParkatmyHouse.co.uk, those attending St Bartholomew's and University College hospitals have to pay £6 an hour to leave a car near the hospital while those visiting St Mary's or the Heart Hospital are paying £5 an hour for parking.2010-10-19http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/oct_2010/saturday_16_-_monday_18_octoberThe Independent reports that the NHS has axed nearly 15,000 jobs over the past nine months despite the government's pledge that health would be protected from its programme of huge public-sector spending cuts. Figures collected by the Royal College of Nursing call into question the degree to which the health service has been protected. Dr Peter Carter said: “We believe that the government genuinely wants to protect frontline services, but what we are seeing on the ground are thousands of job cuts, vacancies frozen, staff down-banded and services closed”. The RCN highlights several trusts that had made cuts.2010-10-18http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/oct_2010/wednesday_13_octoberDr Peter Carter was interviewed as part of a feature on the NHS on BBC1’s Breakfast Show this morning. The feature looked at the efficiency savings that are currently being made within the NHS, including a ‘prudence programme’ at Basingstoke Hospital. The piece was also in the context of the Comprehensive Spending Review, to be announced next week.2010-10-13http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/oct_2010/tuesday_5_octoberThousands of elderly people will benefit from home visits as part of a campaign to keep them out of hospital. Health Secretary Andrew Lansley will tell the Conservative Party conference today that pensioners discharged from hospital will get six weeks of state help to improve post- hospital care.2010-10-05http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/sept_2010/wednesday_29_septemberA profile of Dr Peter Carter by Denis Campbell is published in The Guardian today. Peter gives a candid interview about how the government’s proposal for the health service to save between £15bn-£20bn by 2013-14, will have an impact on patient care. He gives examples from the RCN Frontline First campaign on cuts to the health service happening around the country. He also identifies areas of savings that could be made and gives examples of waste in the NHS, including over-ordering of medication and electrical equipment needlessly left on all day.2010-09-29http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/sept_2010/tuesday_28_septemberLarge supermarket chains would benefit from a £700m windfall if minimum pricing for alcohol was introduced across the UK, according to new research. The Institute for Fiscal Studies warned that setting a minimum price would mean the financial gains would go to the retailers and manufactures, rather than adding to “much-needed” tax revenue. The IFS said the UK government should instead look at raising alcohol taxes if it wished to target excess drinking.2010-09-28http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/sept_2010NHS hospitals are prescribing unlicensed drugs because they are cheaper, according to documents seen by the Daily Mail. The documents show that in at least one case, hospitals are giving patients an unlicensed drug costing £1,250 a year rather than buying the newly launched official version, which costs £44,000 a year.2010-09-27http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/sept_2010/wednesday_22_septemberA campaign to raise awareness of early signs of cancer in England will be launched by The Department of Health in January 2011. Local areas have been given a share of £9m to spend on initiatives to highlight symptoms of bowel, breast and lung cancer and encourage people to check themselves for such signs that they have one of the conditions.2010-09-22http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/sept_2010/friday_17_septemberA review into childcare in Britain, carried out by Sir Ian Kennedy, concluded that GPs and nurses should receive extra training in the field. The review was commissioned last year following the death of Baby P. The review has described local health services for children and young people as “mediocre”.2010-09-17http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/sept_2010/wednesday_15_septemberThe head of the NHS’s biggest authority is facing questions over its finances. Ruth Carnell, chief executive of London’s strategic authority is under pressure to explain the “financial black hole” faced by trusts. Earlier this year, it emerged six health organisations in the capital were desperately short of cash.2010-09-15http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/sept_2010/tuesday_14_septemberThe TUC has backed a resolution calling for co-ordinated campaigns and industrial action against the cuts. Leaders of the country’s biggest unions criticised the governments spending cuts, which they claimed have already led to more than 200,000 public sector job losses or redundancy threats.2010-09-14http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/sept_2010/saturday_11-monday_13_septemberMinisters have indicated that plans for a national ban on hospitals in England charging patients for parking, made by the previous government, would be abandoned as part of a drive to give individual NHS trusts more control. Consultation response due to be published soon.2010-09-13http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/sept_2010/wednesday_8_septemberMinisters will go to Europe to negotiate a means of excluding junior doctors from the EU directive that limits their working hours and compromises both training and patient care, the Health Secretary said yesterday.2010-09-08http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/sept_2010/tuesday_7_septemberOpinion piece by Alan Leaman, the chief executive of the Management Consultancies Association, claims that describing NHS use of management consultants as wasteful is wrong. "First, it is cost effective and given the right brief, consultancies bring an invaluable external perspective, focus and discipline, with knowledge and understanding that cannot be generated in-house”.2010-09-07http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/sept_2010/saturday_4_-_monday_6_septemberAlmost a quarter of junior doctors drop out of their NHS training after two years, according to the first survey since a European directive imposed a cap on their working time. The findings have been blamed in part on the EU ruling that limits junior doctors to a maximum 48-hour working week.2010-09-06http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/august_2010/friday_27_augustIncrease in obesity surgery There has been a nine-fold increase in the number of people undergoing surgery for obesity in the last five years. Obesity surgery is now costing the NHS £29 million per year, according to figures from the NHS Information Centre. In 2003-04, there were 480 surgical procedures. Last year, there were 4,286. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-11097566 http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2010/aug/27/nhs-obesity-operation-ninefold-increase http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/195768/NHS-squanders-millions-on-fat-surgery The Financial Times, pg 22010-08-27http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/august_2010/wednesday_25_augustAccording to the figures published by the Health Protection Agency, there have been half a million new cases of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the UK last year and one in 10 of 15-24 year olds with an STI became infected again within a year. The rise is in part due to more testing, and the use of tests which are more sensitive at picking up signs of an infection - but experts believe unsafe sexual behaviour is also part of the story.2010-08-25http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/august_2010/tuesday_24_augustThe Journal warns that thousands of health workers face the axe in the region over the next four years. Figures from the RCN’s Frontline First campaign show that out of £800m in savings, around £369.5m will be permanently cut from health budgets in the North East and Cumbria.2010-08-24http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/august_2010/monday_23_augustThe NHS spent £313 million on management consultants last year - as thousands of staff faced job cuts. The Times reports that the sum revealed by the government would pay for 10,000 nurses and equals the amount the NHS spent on treating lung and skin cancer. Royal College of Nursing chief executive Dr Peter Carter said: "The figure is a scandal at a time when nurses are seeing frontline services cut and being asked to accept a pay freeze." Dr Carter was also interviewed by the BBC and ITV on Saturday.2010-08-23http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/august_2010/wednesday_18_augustImposing spending cuts on the NHS could actually help people's health, according to David Hunter, professor of health policy at Durham University. He says cutting the NHS budget would focus attention on weaning people off lifestyles that lead to preventable problems like obesity, diabetes and heart disease.2010-08-18http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/august_2010/tuesday_17_augustThe Department of Health has announced that from January all patients must be placed in single sex accommodation unless there is “clinical justification.” Several newspapers report that thousands of patients stayed in mixed sex wards last year. RCN Executive Director of Nursing and Service Delivery Janet Davies yesterday appeared on BBC News 24 channel and ITV’s lunchtime news to comment on the proposals. Mary Dejevsky has written an opinion piece in the Independent on patient privacy in this context.2010-08-17http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/august_2010/wednesday_11_augustA new superbug that is resistant to even the most powerful antibiotics has entered UK hospitals, experts warn. They say bacteria that make an enzyme called NDM-1 have travelled back with NHS patients who went abroad to countries like India and Pakistan for treatments such as cosmetic surgery. Although there have only been about 50 cases identified in the UK so far, scientists fear it will go global.2010-08-11http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/august_2010/tuesday_10_augustA poll and citizens' jury conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers has concluded that the NHS should not be exempt from cuts to public spending. Three in five people on the jury opposed exempting international aid from the cuts, while 91% agreed that healthcare spending should no longer be ringfenced.2010-08-10http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/august_2010/saturday_7_-_monday_9_augustProfessor Steve Field, Chairman of the Royal College of General Practitioners, has criticised the public's attitude to food, alcohol and cigarettes which he claims is causing growing levels of disease and early death. He backs the call by Andrew Lansley, Health Secretary, for people to take more responsibility for protecting their health. He also said that parents who smoke near their children at home or in cars are committing a form of child abuse, adding that parents should take more responsibility.2010-08-09http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/august_2010/wednesday_04_augustSteve Jamieson, Head of Nursing Department appeared yesterday on a new topical debate show 3@ three on ITV discussing the burden on alcohol on the NHS. You can watch Steve on ITV player.2010-08-04http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/august_2010/tuesday_03_augustA campaign of national strikes over cuts to spending, pay and pensions by public sector workers is being drawn up by trade union leaders including Unite and Unison. The national day of action on October 20 will take place the same day as the spending review, when George Osborne will reveal details of £83 billion cuts to public spending.2010-08-03http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/august_2010/saturday_31_july_-_monday_2_augustEU rules that restrict the number of hours that junior doctors work are reported to be reviewed by the government. The Department of Health indicated that it was to renegotiate Britain's position in relation to the Working Time Directive, including an opt-out for some NHS workers. A survey by the Royal College of Surgeons found the reduction in working hours has led to 61% of consultants operating without assistants and two-thirds of trainees having less time to gain hands-on experience in theatre.2010-08-02http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/july_2010/wednesday_28_julyThe government has announced a £50m fund which should give very sick cancer patients access to drugs sooner. From October, rather than next year, doctors in England can offer drugs which have not been approved by the rationing body NICE. The announcement was made at the launch of a study showing that the UK is behind other countries in providing the newest cancer drugs.2010-07-28http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/july_2010/tuesday_27_julyAndrew Lansley, Health Secretary has announced the number of health non-departmental public bodies is to be halved in an attempt to save up to £180million in a year. Eighteen health bodies will be reduced to between eight and ten over the next four years. Andrew Lansley said the aim was to save costs and cut bureaucracy in the NHS and essential work would be moved to other bodies. Dr Peter Carter is quoted in The Metro saying: “Many of the organisations facing significant change have been instrumental in protecting and promoting good health. It is vital that their benefits do not fall through the gaps in a reorganised service”.2010-07-27http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/july_2010/saturday_24_-_monday_26_julyThe Sunday Telegraph reports plans to cut NHS services have been drawn by local trusts. The plans show restrictions on the on the basic treatments as part of cost-cutting measures, and some of the most common operations - including hip replacements and cataract surgery - will be rationed as part of attempts to save billions of pounds. Other cuts being planned include cutting hundreds of pounds from palliative care budgets, the closure of nursing homes for the elderly, a reduction in acute hospital beds and tighter rationing of NHS funding for IVF treatment, and for surgery for obesity. Dr Peter Carter is quoted in The Sunday Telegraph, The Daily Mirror and The Metro saying he is incredibly worried about the disclosures.2010-07-26http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/july_2010/wednesday_21_julyComment piece by Leo McKinstry from The Daily Express discussing why the public sector must be brought under control. He talks about the opposition from unions on public sector cuts and how it will take the government real political courage to implement the programme of public sector austerity. The article cites the RCN figure 10,000 posts could go in the NHS.2010-07-21http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/july_2010/tuesday_20_julyThe Daily Mail reports NHS managers made redundant by the Government could end up working in GP consortium. Health Secretary Andrew Lansley last week unveiled plans to axe a range of NHS organisations, potentially costing 20,000 managers their jobs. He said family doctors should take responsibility for health budgets. But now GPs have been told by their professional body to employ health service managers to carry out this task.2010-07-20http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/july_2010/wednesday_14_julyThe Daily Mail reports nurses are spending less than half their time looking after patients because they are overwhelmed by paperwork and form-filling. The findings come amid growing concerns that nursing staff are being increasingly swamped by bureaucracy and target-chasing which prevents them from being able to care properly for patients. Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has introduced the contracts as part of a pilot scheme to increase the amount of time nurses spend at their patients’ bedside. Dr Peter Carter is quoted saying: “Nurses enter the profession because they want to care for patients and so measures that increase the amount of time they spend with patients are a good thing. However, it is often problems with resourcing that reduce the amount of time nurses spend with patients. It is vital that wards are sufficiently resourced so nurses can provide patients with the level of care they want and deserve”.2010-07-14http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/july_2010The papers report on what was announced yesterday in the government’s health white paper. Andrew Lansley, Health Secretary outlined plans which will see the NHS in England undergo a major restructuring in one of the biggest shake-ups in its history. £80 billion of NHS funding will be handed to GPs to buy care for patients in their area, with primary care trusts and strategic health authorities to be abolished by 2013. An independent NHS commissioning board will oversee the new regime and give funds to the GP consortia, while councils will take over the PCT’s public health role. Andrew Lansley says it will hand over power and choice over treatments to patients as well as cutting bureaucracy. A comment piece by George Monbiot in The Guardian criticises the White Paper claiming it removes all meaningful government regulation from the health sector. A comment piece by Nick Seddon in The Daily Telegraph says setting up an insurance system would provide better and fairer care than giving control of budgets to GPs.2010-07-13http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/july_2010/saturday_10_-_monday_12_julyThe media are reporting on what will be announced today in the government’s health white paper. Andrew Lansley, Health Secretary is expected to announce huge reforms in the NHS, giving GPs having responsibility for much of England’s NHS budget, cutting bureaucracy to re-invest in front line services and patients having more choice and control over their care. The government is also expected to release tables showing the success rates of hospitals across the country in treating a range of diseases and illnesses. The Daily Express and BBC News Online quote the RCN figures that 10,000 jobs in the NHS are at risk. The Independent on Sunday quotes Dr Peter Carter: “Wider multi-disciplinary teams would be better equipped to decide how best to meet patient needs. Nurses have regular contact with patients and understand the needs of communities, and so should play a central role in shaping the local health authorities”. Melanie Phillips from The Daily Mail comments on the government opportunity to reform the NHS.2010-07-12http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/july_2010/friday_9_julyBiggest revolution in NHS for 60 years: The government is planning to abolish strategic health authorities and primary care trusts and instead entrust responsibility for overseeing frontline patient care to doctors. The plan, contained in a white paper to be published next week, will see about £80bn distributed to family GPs and is designed to place key decisions about how patients are cared for in the hands of the doctors who know them. Tens of thousands of administrative jobs in the health service are expected to be lost as a result. The report on BBC Online also mentions the Royal College of Nursing’s finding that 10,000 jobs are already earmarked for cuts in the NHS.2010-07-09http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/july_2010/wednesday_7_july10,000 NHS jobs earmarked for cuts: The Royal College of Nursing has received extensive UK wide media coverage today on its evidence that at least 10,000 NHS jobs are earmarked to be cut, despite promises that frontline health services will be protected. The RCN collected evidence of 10,000 posts that have been lost or are expected to be cut following recruitment freezes, not replacing retiring staff and redundancies. The RCN has launched a UK-wide campaign entitled Frontline First to expose the NHS budget cuts that could harm patient care, find waste in the NHS and to champion nurse-led innovations. Dr Peter Carter was quoted in The Daily Telegraph, The Independent, The Daily Mail, The Guardian, The Daily Mirror, BBC News Online and The Daily Mirror and interviewed by the BBC News and Talk Sport Radio. He said: “We are realistic about the need to find financial savings in the NHS but our figures expose the myth that frontline services will be protected as NHS bodies begin their drive to create huge efficiencies. Local authorities appear to be adopting a slash-and-burn approach to jobs which is shocking and will have a disastrous effect and only on the quality of care provided and also on the range of treatments available”. He added his fear was that specialist nurses, who work with people with long-term conditions such as diabetes and asthma, would be targeted along with nurses working on general wards. Broadcast interviews are also scheduled to take place around the countries and regions today.2010-07-07http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/july_2010/tuesday_06_julyStephen Dorrell MP, the new chair of the Health Select Committee, said today that ringfencing the £100billion NHS budget would be of limited value and instead advocated a voucher plan which would enable patients to choose and buy treatment. Mr Dorrell was speaking at an event organised by the 2020 Public Services Trust, of which he is a commissioner. The Trust also says that 82% of the public believe the NHS should be protected from spending cuts.2010-07-06http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/july_2010/saturday_3_-_monday_5_julyDoubt case on NHS plans: Andrew Lansley's plans for a radical revamp in the way the National Health Service works could face delay after they were rejected by the committee that resolves disputes between the government's coalition partners It is now unclear whether the revised publication date of July 12 for the white paper will hold, with the paper due to go to cabinet this week. The News of the World (p.22) reports that one of the plans is that GPs will have to take responsibility for patients at night instead of farming them off to poor quality medical companies.2010-07-05http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/july_2010/friday_2_julyNational Audit Office report finds life expectancy gap is widening: The public spending watchdog the National Audit Office has found that the gap between average life expectancy and that of the poorest in England is widening. The report’s findings come despite an estimated total spend of £20 billion over the last ten years being directed at target areas. Life expectancy is now 77.9 years for men and 82 years for women but in poor areas it falls to 75.8 and 80.4 years. The auditors call for more investment to help GPs tackle problems like smoking and poor diet in poor communities.2010-07-02http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/july_2010/thursday_1_july600,000 public sector jobs face the axe: The Office for Budget Responsibility has predicted that 600,000 public sector jobs, representing one in nine of the total, will be lost in the next six years. The Financial Times reports that David Cameron has said that the planned two-year pay freeze will help to prevent even greater job losses than the 600,000 forecast.2010-07-02http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/june_2010/wednesday_30_juneDuring a debate at the BMA's annual conference, doctors said tougher measures are needed to tackle alcohol abuse, including a clampdown on supermarkets offering loyalty points for purchases. They also want police to get tougher on drunkenness on public transport. Other debates discussed included doctors voting to ban homeopathy on the NHS. Chairman Hamish Meldrum also called for family doctors to take over commissioning of hospital care.2010-06-30http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/june_2010/tuesday_29_juneAn opinion piece in The Daily Mail by the Director of Civitas, an Independent think-tank on how we can cut costs in the NHS. The piece mentions the RCN calculation that management consultants cost the NHS about £350m a year.2010-06-29http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/june_2010/saturday_26-_28_monday_juneBMA warns cuts to jobs and services: A survey by the BMA has found the care on the NHS is already being affected by redundancies, recruitment freezes and service cutbacks, despite the government’s pledge to protect frontline healthcare from severe curbs on spending. The Daily Telegraph mentions that the RCN said earlier this year that 5,600 jobs were under threat across 26 hospital trusts. Nadine Dorries, member of the Commons health select committee said that health funding should not be ring-fenced.2010-06-28http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/june_2010Nursing trainees face cuts: The Sunday Mirror reports that nearly 1,400 nurse training posts are being axed to cut costs. Six per cent fewer nurses will be trained this year than in 2009 - even though 180,000 NHS nurses - one in four - are due to retire in the next 10 years. The Royal College of Nursing is quoted as saying "It is very simple - patient care will suffer in the long term if we do not train enough nurses now.2010-06-21http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/june_2010/wednesday_16_juneReport by Reform on tackling the budget deficit: Patients should be charged £10 for every GP appointment saving the NHS £1.6 billion by 2014, according to a report, entitled ‘Budget 2010, Taking Choices’ published by think-tank Reform. They also suggest cutting 32,000 hospital beds and cutting 250,000 staff to save more than £20 billion from the health budget.2010-06-16http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/june_2010/saturday_12_-_monday_14_juneDisparity in NHS death rates: According to an investigation by The Guardian doctors in the NHS do not know how well they are performing and whether they are more likely than their colleagues to kill or cure their patients, because of a widespread failure to collect the information. The results of a major exercise looking at one particular procedure – vascular surgery- show a massive variation in death among patients admitted for planned operations and reveal that some hospitals have unacceptable high mortality.2010-06-14http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/june_2010/wednesday_09_juneAndrew Lansley speech on NHS reforms: Following on from yesterday’s story on Andrew Lansley speech on NHS reforms, The Daily Mail reports that Andrew Lansley said nurses are being forced to spend the bulk of their time completing paperwork and filling in forms, limiting the time they can spend with patients. The article says that the RCN has repeatedly warned that nurses are being bogged down by the weight of administrative duties. Andrew Lansley speech is widely reported in all the newspapers with each covering different aspects of his speech. The Financial Times looks at the issue that hospitals will no longer be paid when patients are readmitted as emergencies within 30 days of discharge. The Daily Mail looks at how hospitals are to be ordered to adopt a zero-tolerance approach to tackling superbugs. A comment piece in The Daily Telegraph criticises the government for shying away from tackling what it believes is the fundamental problem facing the NHS – its monolithic, inflexible structure. Dr Peter Carter also took part in interviews with BBC Radio 5 Live and Talk Sport Radio.2010-06-09http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/june_2010/tuesday_08_juneHealth reforms: Health Secretary Andrew Lansley is to announce today a series of major reforms that will see hospitals held responsible for patients' health and wellbeing for up to a month after they are discharged, and will be penalised financially if patients have to be readmitted within 30 days because their conditions were not treated properly. Hospitals will also be penalised financially for a wide array of so-called "never events" - things which should never happen to patients. These will include contracting an infection, such as MRSA, and bungled surgery.2010-06-08http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/june_2010/saturday_5-_monday_7_juneA leaked copy of an inquiry report is to disclose that hospital errors allowed nurses at Airedale NHS Trust in Yorkshire to prescribe and administer powerful painkillers that led to the deaths of three patients and may have harmed dozens more. A police investigation was ordered into the deaths of three patients. One nurse was charged but never stood trial. It has been reported the final report will be released on Tuesday following a board meeting at NHS Yorkshire & Humber.2010-06-07http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/june_2010/wednesday_2_juneNICE calls for curbs on alcohol: The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) has announced a series of recommendations to reduce the harm of excessive drinking. The recommendations include, introducing of a minimum price per unit of alcohol to discourage supermarkets from selling at a discount price, giving council powers to shut down off-licences in areas “saturated” with alcohol outlets and high level of drunkenness or anti-social behaviour. NICE has also said new initiatives are needed to help doctors, hospitals and the police screen people with potential drinking problems. The Daily Mirror and The Independent mention the RCN has backed the guidance for minimum pricing of alcohol.2010-06-02http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/may_2010/saturday_29_may_-_tuesday_1_juneInfection rates for each hospital ward to be published online: Hospital patients are to be told online the number of superbug cases on every hospital ward every week. The move will be announced on Wednesday as part of Prime Minister David Cameron’s drive to open government. NHS patients will be able to check the number of MRSA and C. difficile cases on the ward they are being treated on or about to be treated under the new initiative.2010-06-01http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/may_2010/wednesday_26_mayPrime Minister David Cameron used the Queen’s Speech to put forward a programme of 22 bills. The Financial Times and The Daily Telegraph have at-a-glance list of bills put forward and what they mean. The bills include measures to tackle the budget deficit, education reform and a pledge to hold a referendum on an alternative voting system. A health bill will be introduced to give doctors and their patients’ greater control with “devolution of power and responsibility of within the NHS”. An independent board commission will report within a year on establishing responsible and sustainable funding for long-term care for the elderly.2010-05-26http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/may_2010/tuesday_25_mayChancellor outline cuts: Chancellor George Osborne outlined plans yesterday to cut £6.2bn to reduce the budget deficit. Many departments are facing cuts, however the NHS budget will be protected. There will be cuts to quangos, spending on consultancy and big IT projects and a civil service recruitment freeze. Child Trust Funds will be axed by January but funding for schools and Sure Start will be protected. The Financial Times reports at least 30,000 jobs and possible more than 50,000 will go this year as the cuts take effect. The Times reports that Vince Cable’s Business Department will bear brunt of the £6 billion in cuts.2010-05-25http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/may_2010/saturday_22_may_-_monday_24_mayChancellor George Osborne is to spell out plans today to cut £6.2bn in spending - saying action needs to be taken now to start rectifying the UK's finances. Budgets for IT, property, advertising and recruitment are expected to be cut, while some quangos could be abolished. The Sunday Times reported that they have seen research which shows the number of job losses could reach 700,000, these include tens of thousands of health service managers as well as many thousands of doctors and nurses.2010-05-24http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/may_2010/wednesday_19_mayWhistle-blowing: The NHS is still not doing enough to support whistleblowers, according to a study by the British Medical Journal. The investigation found the content of many policies was overly cautious and negative after viewing documents from 118 hospital foundation trusts. Some used words such as disciplinary too often, while others did not do enough to stress the ability of staff to go to outside bodies with concerns.2010-05-19http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/may_2010/tuesday_18_mayNHS cuts: The BBC reports that the NHS is bracing itself for a "brutal" round of cuts - and staff fear they are in the firing line. Several major hospitals have already said posts will go and more announcements are expected soon. The BBC has learned a £2bn pot is being set aside in England to pay for one-off costs, such as redundancies and redeployments, to help fund the cuts. Managers were reportedly told by the Department of Health before the election to hold the money back.2010-05-18http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/may_2010/wednesday_12_mayWard sisters help slash infection rates: The Daily Express reports that hospitals with previously high infection rates have slashed rates after putting ward sisters back in charge. Senior nurses at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust have been given allotted time to lead their staff and push through stringent improvements demanded by the Healthcare Commission. Peter Carter is quoted saying: “Patients need to know who is in charge, and they can be reassured when the ward sister has all the necessary authority, skills and resources. Where this pivotal role is empowered, ward sisters can ensure that care is well-organised and well-delivered and that the ward is clean. It is no surprise to the RCN that where this has happened, we are seeing massively reduced infection rates”.2010-05-12http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/may_2010/tuesday_11_mayChildren should eat more fruit and vegetables: Children must be encouraged to eat more fruit and vegetables to reduce the risk of cancer in later life, according to The World Cancer Research Fund. Most of Britain’s youngsters do not get enough of the vital vitamins and nutrients included in fresh fruit and vegetables. Official figures show that children aged between five and fifteen have an average of three portions of fruits and vegetables a day.2010-05-11http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/may_2010/saturday_1_-_tuesday_4_maySecret health cuts planned: According to the Sunday Telegraph planned NHS cuts would mean thousands of training posts for doctors and nurses could be axed across England. Dr Peter Carter is quoted as saying: “This flies in the face of what politicians have been saying, that they will protect front line services. If plans to cut training places for nurses go ahead on this scale, it would be nothing short of a disaster, and would directly hit the front line.” A separate article in The Times reports that the NHS is facing significant cuts in services across England and Wales despite election pledges from the main parties to protect health spending. The number of health bodies seeking advice on big changes to NHS services, including shutting down hospital units, has doubled over the past year. A total of 26 organisations across England approached the Independent Reconfiguration Panel (IRP), the group of experts consulted on service changes, over the past financial year about restructuring care in their area - up from 13 in 2008-09.2010-05-04http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/april_2010/wednesday_21_aprilMortality rates are a poor measure of hospital care: Death rates are a poor measure of hospital care and should not be used to trigger public inquiries, argue experts in a paper published in The British Medical Journal. They say the figures were a "poor test of quality" and urged inspectors to rely on other measures instead.2010-04-21http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/april_2010/tuesday_20_aprilCall for donors to be paid for donating organs: Cash incentives and the payment of funeral expenses are two ideas being put forward to encourage people to donate human organs and tissue. The Nuffield Council on Bioethics is asking the public if it is ethical to use financial incentives to increase donations of organs, eggs and sperm. Paying for most types of organs and tissue is illegal in the UK. The public consultation will last 12 weeks and the council's findings will be published in autumn 2011.2010-04-20http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/april_2010/saturday_17-_monday_19_aprilCharities not receiving funds for the most vulnerable: A coalition of organisations, including the Alzheimer’s Society, The Patients Association and Arthritis Care, say in a joint manifesto that funds which were promised for the terminally ill, disabled children and carers in recent years have all been “sucked away” from their intended purpose. Of more than £770 million pledged for such causes in recent years, most never went to those who had been pledged support. In a letter to The Sunday Telegraph, the charities plead for the next Government to achieve new standards of transparency, and to keep promises made to the most vulnerable.2010-04-19http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/april_2010/friday_16th_april15% of PCT are considering applying for abortion licence: A planned expansion of NHS abortion services could see women offered the procedure at GP surgeries, with one in in six health care trusts in England considering carrying out terminations in family doctors' practices, according to a Freedom of Information request by GP Newspaper. 15% of primary care trusts in England have either applied for, or are considering, an application for a licence to perform terminations in GP surgeries. Each surgery has to gain approval from the Care Quality Commission and the Health Secretary before abortions can be carried out.2010-04-16http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/april_2010/wednesday_14_aprilConservative Party election manifesto: The Conservative’s launched their election manifesto, ‘Invitation to join the government of Britain’, yesterday in London. The Conservatives NHS reforms included, scrapping waiting targets, stopping closures of A&E and maternity wards, funding new cancer drugs and giving individual patients their own health and social care budget. The BBC published a series of reactions to the manifesto from different political parties and organisations including the RCN. The RCN welcomed plans to protect hospital staff if they raise concerns about patient safety. Janet Davies added that the RCN was committed to working with “whichever party wins the election” to maintain and improve care. The RCN is also calling for safe staffing levels, time to train, support for specialist nurses and sustained investment in services, staff and facilities.2010-04-14http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/april_2010/tuesday_13_aprilThe Labour party launched their election manifesto, ‘A Future Fair for All’, yesterday at a Birmingham hospital. Gordon Brown highlighted NHS reforms including, every hospital becoming a foundation trust by 2015, patients be given legally-binding rights on treatment and waiting times. More GP surgeries will be open from 8am to 8pm and there will be extra health services on the high street. Everyone with a long-term condition will have the right to a care plan and an individual budget.2010-04-13http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/april_2010/saturday_10-_monday_12_aprilHospital chiefs see 6.9% pay rise: The pay of National Health Service chief executives increased by 6.9 per cent last year on average, while nurses received 2.75 per cent increase, according to a report by Incomes Data Services. Janet Davies was quoted in The Daily Mail saying:” It is difficult to expect nurses and other staff to be happy with their pay award when staff in their boardroom are getting three times as much. At a time when the NHS is expected to make significant savings, pay must be seen to be fair”.2010-04-12http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/april_2010/wednesday_7_aprilSpending cuts in Cardiff: Financial Times explores through a series of articles the key shifts of the past 13 years through the prism of election battleground seats. Today’s piece looks at Cardiff’s public sector economy. Nurses talk about how they could do lot more with extra investment. The article mentions that specialist nurses, with appropriate training could help save each hospital trust about £3m a year in superfluous medication, according to Tina Donnelly, Director of RCN Wales.2010-04-07http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/april_2010/friday_2-tuesday_6_aprilPatients warned about drinking: People being treated in accident and emergency departments with drink-related injuries are to be given advice by hospital staff on how to control their alcohol. The RCN recently accredited a training course to help nurses to intervene to help curb this behaviour in the long term. Janet Davies is quoted in The Daily Telegraph saying: “The time nurses spend with patients during follow-up appointments provides a valuable window of opportunity to encourage people to think about whether they might be drinking too much, and to signpost them to further information and advice”.2010-04-06http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/march/wednesday_31_marchProposal for National Care Service unveiled: Proposals for a national service for social care where "everyone will contribute and everyone will get their care for free", in a move billed by the government as "the biggest change to the welfare state since 1948", were unveiled yesterday. Decisions about how the service will be funded are being delayed until after the general election, when an independent commission will recommend the form of compulsory contribution that will be needed.2010-03-31http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/march/tuesday_30_marchNurses missing out on training: Nurses are missing vital training in areas such as life support, controlling infections and child protection, according to a survey by the Royal College of Nursing. Among the 3,000 nurses questioned, 32% were unable to attend their compulsory training this year. Of those, 44 % said they could not attend due to staff shortages. Janet Davies was quoted in The Metro, Daily Telegraph and The Times saying: “We know from previous economic downturns that training is often the first place managers look when they need to start making cuts”.2010-03-30http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/march/saturday_27_monday_29_marchNHS 'planning for massive loss of jobs and beds': According to internal SHA documents seen by the Daily Telegraph, the NHS is planning for budget cuts that could result in the loss of thousands of beds and tens of thousands of jobs. Under the proposals by ten Strategic Health Authorities, up to 10% of jobs could go in hospitals and clinics in some areas. There would also be cuts to ambulance services. A separate letter published in The Guardian by the presidents of associations representing six of the biggest surgical disciplines in the NHS has claimed that basic surgical procedures that could improve the lives of thousands of people are being withheld by NHS trusts for cost reasons.2010-03-29http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/march/thursday_25_marchBudget report sets out £4.35bn health savings: In his budget report, Alistair Darling, Chancellor of the Exchequer, has announced how the Department of Health intends to achieve £4.35 billion of savings annually by 2012-13. The savings will focus primarily on driving down procurement costs and reducing staff sickness absence, as well as cuts to the IT programme, more efficient use of land and buildings and reductions in energy use. The RCN responded to the budget saying: “There has been significant investment in the NHS over the last decade, but we are concerned that the need to create massive efficiency savings could lead to a short term slash and burn approach across the service in the future.”2010-03-25http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/march/wednesday_24_marchA call to ban smoking in cars: Doctors have called for a ban on smoking in cars following growing evidence about the effect of cigarettes on children. The Royal College of Physicians wants England's imminent review of anti-smoking laws to consider such measures to protect the young. It says passive smoking results in 300,000 extra child visits to GPs in the UK every year for problems such as asthma and bacterial meningitis. Janet Davies is quoted saying: “The alarming evidence in the report makes it a moral duty to protect young people’s health from the dangers of passive smoking”.2010-03-24http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/march/saturday_20-_monday_22_marchCare homes will still cost thousands: The Conservatives claim people who need nursing home care will still face bills for thousands of pounds for their accommodation despite government plans for a new levy to meet the costs. Within the next fortnight, Andy Burnhman, Health Secretary, is expected to unveil proposals for a new levy to fund nursing home care as part of the social care white paper.2010-03-23http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/march/tuesday_23_marchGPs propose longer consultations with seriously ill patients: The Royal College of GPs is calling for doctors to spend more time with sicker patients while those with minor ailments should see a nurse, ring a helpline or go online for a video consultation. They also want appointments for standard patients to be increased from 10 to 15 minutes so doctors can spend more time with the people with long-term conditions such as diabetes, cancer and obesity.2010-03-23http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/march/wednesday_17_marchHospitals should axe thousands of beds: Nearly 30,000 hospital beds in England should be axed to save money and improve care, according to the think-tank Reform. The study, Fewer Hospitals and More Competition says the NHS focus should move away from hospital treatment as more people suffer from conditions, such as diabetes, which can be treated at home. It says a quarter of beds could be axed to fund more personalised treatment. Tom Sandford, Director of RCN England said: “Simply slashing bed numbers without planning for the long term would be completely irresponsible”.2010-03-17http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/march/tuesday_16_marchNHS spends millions on management consultants: An article in The Daily Mail focuses on how The Department of Health has spent £478 million on management consultants and accountants over the last five years. The article mentions that the RCN carried out a survey last year of NHS trusts which indicated they spent further £350 million a year on top of this. Peter Carter was quoted saying at that time: “These figures are utterly shocking when you consider the difference that this money could made to patients.2010-03-16http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/march/saturday_13-_monday_15_marchPublic views on the NHS: The Sun have published results from their YouGov poll on the public view of the NHS. The poll of 1,174 adults found 91 per cent agree there should be a cut in management spending to boost investment for frontline services and 63 per cent say putting targets ahead of patient care is the biggest concern. The piece has personal views from the public including a daughter talking about her mum’s poor care at Stafford hospital.2010-03-15http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/march/friday_12_marchNHS as ‘preferred provider’ policy comes under fire: Andy Burnham’s proposals that the NHS be the ‘preferred provider’ of care are said to have been watered down following alleged opposition to the idea among cabinet members. The expectation is that in new guidance on the NHS, there will only be a brief mention of the ‘preferred provider’ idea.2010-03-12http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/march/thursday_11_marchTom Sandford interviewed on Channel 4 News: Tom Sandford was interviewed on Channel 4 News on Tuesday evening discussing cuts and staffing issues. Tom was quoted as saying, "Without doubt whoever wins the election is going to be saying afterwards, ‘We've looked at the books, we're sorry, we know now information that we didn’t know then, and as a result of that information we're going to have to make savings on a bigger scale than we thought we were going to have to’."2010-03-12http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/march/wednesday_10_marchConcerns over NHS database: The British Medical Association has called for a halt in the development of a medical records database for patients in England. They say the computer-based Summary Care Records are being set up at "break-neck speed", sometimes without patients' knowledge.2010-03-10http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/march/tuesday_9_marchPatients treated in storerooms: Hospital patients are being treated in mop cupboards, storerooms and kitchens because wards are full, according to a survey by Nursing Times. Nearly two-thirds of the 900 nurses who took part in the poll said they were aware of cases of patients treated in areas not designed for care. Janet Davies, is quoted on BBC News Online saying: “While there may be, in occasional instances, legitimate reasons for treating someone in a non-clinical area, we are concerned at these findings. As pressures inside the NHS start to rise due to budget cutbacks, it is vital that nurses and other healthcare staff are confident that their concerns over failures in patient care will be heard."2010-03-09http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/march/saturday_6_-_monday_8_marchNHS trusts give inaccurate hospital performance data to public: More than half of hospital trusts inspected last year reported inaccurately their standards of care, according to an investigation by BBC Panorama, to be broadcast tonight. The majority of hospitals have been incorrectly assessing their own performance, leaving them open to accusation of misleading the public about levels of patient safety.2010-03-08http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/march/thursday_4_marchInquiry into NHS ‘preferred provider’ put off: An investigation into the legality of Andy Burnham’s decision that the NHS was to be the ‘preferred provider’ of services has been put off because primary care trusts in the east of England were ordered to halt the procurement for community services. Representatives of voluntary organisations and the private sector (represented by the NHS Partners Network) had previously brought the complaint about the legality of the policy.2010-03-04http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/march/wednesday_3_marchNurses and Midwives to renew pledge to care: The Prime Minister’s Commission on the Future of Nursing and Midwifery review out today states 20 key recommendations for the nursing and midwifery profession. They include a drive to improve the status of the profession to help restore public trust and a need for employers to prioritise the values of compassion and help nurses act as role models for healthy living. The commission also states that ward sisters and charge nurses should have their roles boosted and pay reviewed to underline the importance of the role. The RCN welcomed the review saying it “Marks a milestone for nursing … what is important now is turning this ambitious vision into reality”.2010-03-03http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/march/tuesday_2_marchBack-pain help for workers: Employers need to do more to help people with back and joint pain stay in work, according to experts. The Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance called for a range of measures and rights to tackle the issue, which costs society an estimated £7bn a year. The alliance, an umbrella group representing 34 charities and health bodies including the National Osteoporosis Society, Royal College of Nursing and Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, believes more should be done to help those already suffering ill-health.2010-03-02http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/february2/saturday_27_february-_monday_1_marchSpecialist nurses: BBC News Online reports on the RCN campaign for guaranteed access to specialist nursing care for all patients with long term conditions. Peter Carter is quoted saying: "While the temptation may be to cut or downgrade specialist nursing roles, this would be a false economy which would only add to the growing cost of treating long-term conditions. Specialist nurses are a unique lifeline for patients and families, who are unequivocal in saying that the specialist nurse is the key factor in preserving their quality of life."2010-03-01http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/february2/wednesday_24_februaryCall to invest in specialist nurses: The RCN has launched a campaign supported by almost 40 other leading health organisations for funding to be guaranteed for specialist posts, estimating that the nurses could save £56 million a year on care for Parkinson’s patients and £180 million by treating multiple sclerosis suffers at home. They surveyed almost 300 specialist nurses working in 60 NHS organisations and charities and found only 36% believed all those patients who needed specialist nursing currently received it. Dr Peter Carter is quoted in The Times saying: “Despite pledges from ministers to help to support more people in their homes and prevent unnecessary hospital visits, nursing posts were vulnerable when local health managers sought to cut costs. When the NHS was last in deficit in 2006, up to 23,000 nursing posts were lost, frozen or downgraded, in many cases depriving patients of specialist advice and care. While the temptation may be to cut or downgrade specialist nursing roles, this would be a false economy which would only add to the growing cost of treating long-term conditions”. The Liberal Democrats backed the RCN call with Shadow Health Secretary, Norman Lamb saying: “Slashing NHS staff would be false economy and devastating for patient care”.2010-02-24http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/february2/tuesday_23_februaryDementia leaflet: Angela Rippon speaks to The Daily Mail about her experience of seeing healthcare staff struggling to cope with her mother who suffers from dementia She welcomes a new leaflet launched by Alzheimer’s Society supported by the RCN, to help hospital staff improve care to people with dementia. The ‘This is me’ leaflet is filled out by the patient’s carer or relative to provide basic details such as name and address, as well as information about who knows them best, their hobbies, things that worry them and the state of their sight and hearing.2010-02-23http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/february2/wednesday_17_februarySurrey hospital criticised for selling drugs aboard: A hospital trust has been criticised for selling more than £4m-worth of drugs abroad. The Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, which has a licence to sell drugs, said it made £300,000 from the practice during the past year. The Department of Health said trading in medicines was "unacceptable" and could lead to shortages in the UK. But the trust said it ceased the trade in January and had not sold any drugs that were in short supply.2010-02-17http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/february2/tuesday_16_februaryDrinks companies forced to put health warnings on alcohol: Tom Sandford, Director of RCN England is quoted in The Guardian on issue of alcohol labelling. The government has warned they may have to force drinks companies to put health warnings on alcohol after it emerged they were ignoring the voluntary code on labelling Tom Sandford said: “tougher action was needed on excessive drinking. Today’s report confirms what we already know the drinks industry has failed to stick by its promise to take voluntary action on alcohol labelling. We can’t afford to keep giving the industry the option not to make changes which are essential to protecting the nation’s health”.2010-02-16http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/february2/saturday_13_-_monday_15_februarySocial care row: Attempts to reach a consensus on how to pay for elderly care in England appear to have fallen further apart amid angry exchanges from the three main parties on BBC One's Politics Show. Health Secretary Andy Burnham has called a cross-party conference on the issue after earlier talks broke down. Lib Dem Norman Lamb backed the idea but the Conservative’s Andrew Lansley said he would only attend if Labour scrapped a £20,000 dubbed a “death tax”.2010-02-15http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/february2/wednesday_10_februaryHospitals under pressure from Afghanistan injuries: Defence chiefs must do more to tackle a sharp rise in the number of British troops in Afghanistan suffering from illness and minor injuries, according to the National Audit Office (NAO). The report found the treatment of badly wounded personnel is "highly effective" but thousands of working days are being lost to potentially preventable less serious complaints like stomach bugs and sprained ankles. The NAO also warned that hospitals in both Afghanistan and Britain were under growing pressure from the large number of troops being injured in Helmand Province.2010-02-10http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/february2/tuesday_9_februaryProviding more NHS and social care to people in their own homes: The Prime Minister Gordon Brown has pledged to provide more NHS and social care to people in their own homes with new guarantees for cancer patients and elderly people. Gordon Brown said the plan forms part of the Government’s ambition to build a National Care Service and would mean people over 65 who ended up in a care home could stay at home instead.2010-02-09http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/february2/saturday_6_-_monday_8_februaryGovernment promises a specialist nurse for every cancer patient: The Prime Minister will today promise a "personalised" revolution in health and social care, with one-to-one support from a specialist nurse for all cancer patients. Addressing an audience at the King's Fund, Mr Brown will pledge a reform of community healthcare, giving people the option of chemotherapy and dialysis without having to travel to a clinic or hospital. Dr Peter Carter is quoted in The Daily Telegraph as saying: “We are delighted that the government is pledging to invest in specialist nurses, as we know that their value for patients is both unparalleled and cost effective. We have been saying for some time that whoever wins this year’s general election will need to invest in specialist nurses to ensure that patients with complex needs are supported by experts who have the time and the resources to care. Investing in specialist nurses now is crucial not just to patients but to reduce the costs to the NHS from unnecessary complications. Specialist nurses can help all cancer patients to deal with their emotions, avoid unnecessary complications and have a high quality of life. These skills, alongside their very high standards of clinical care and knowledge, provide the very best in one-to-one care for patients so I am very encouraged that the contribution of nurse specialists is being recognised.”2010-02-08http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/february2NHS sick days: The Guardian Society reports on the issue of sick days in the NHS. The NHS health and wellbeing review published at the end of last year, found that 10.3m working days are lost through staff sickness every year. Following the publication of the review’s final report, a roundtable event gathered together occupational health experts, union representatives, senior NHS and independent healthcare managers and policymakers, to discuss the findings and its recommendations. Josie Irwin, Head of Employment Relations and Amanda Callaghan, Director of Communications, attended the event.2010-02-03http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/february2/tuesday_2_februaryFree personal care at home: An attempt to delay a bid to provide free personal care at home for some 250,000 people in England has failed. The House of Lords voted against a motion tabled by former health minister Lord Warner. He had argued that the government's proposal was "unaffordable" and proper consultation had not taken place.2010-02-02http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/2010_january/saturday_30_january_-_monday_1_februaryMid Staffordshire: The Mid Staffordshire NHS foundation trust inquiry is expected to release its report this week. The report is expected to suggest that a culture of secrecy about poor working conditions may have contributed to more than 1,000 patients dying.2010-02-01http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/2010_january/thursday_28_januaryChildren drinking two bottles of wine a week: Figures from the NHS Information Centre indicate that 11 to 15 year olds in the North East of England are drinking 17.7 units of alcohol a week on average – the equivalent of two bottles of wine. The figures also detail alcohol consumption in other regions in England. The lowest figures were in London where children claim to drink 11.3 units a week. The National Centre for Social Research, which carried out the research, suggests many of the respondents may have exaggerated their alcohol intake.2010-01-28http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/2010_january/wednesday_27_januaryBlood clot checks for all hospital patients: All patients admitted to hospital in the UK should be assessed for the risk of dangerous blood clots, according to new guidance. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence is focusing on the risk of clots in veins of the legs, known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT). An estimated 25,000 people die from the avoidable condition each year. It comes after chief medical officer Sir Liam Donaldson announced in 2008 that all patients admitted to hospital should be screened.2010-01-27http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/2010_january/tuesday_26_januaryYoung children taught about sex in schools: Seven year old children will be taught about sex and domestic violence and teenagers will learn the basics of parenting, under new government guidance. The proposals will be sent to all schools after a period of consultation. School secretary Ed Balls said: ‘Young people today grow up in a very different world to the one their parents knew as children...we want to give young people the facts”.2010-01-26http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/2010_january/saturday_23_january_-_monday_25_januaryAll service veterans to get lifelong priority NHS care: Britain’s 5m service veterans, from survivors of the Second World War to those who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan, are to be promised priority healthcare on the NHS for the rest of their lives. Under a Labour plan announced this weekend all service personnel regardless of their rank or whether they saw active service, will be entitled to be placed at the top of the doctors and hospitals waiting lists.2010-01-25http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/2010_january/thursday_21_januaryHospitals 'encourage the overweight to eat more to get operation': Patients requiring life-saving weight loss surgery are being refused treatment because of "inconsistent and unethical" hospital policies, according to the Royal College of Surgeons. Bariatric surgeons have warned that some patients are being forced to wait until they become more obese or until they develop life-threatening illnesses such as diabetes or stroke before they are deemed eligible for surgery.2010-01-21http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/2010_january/wednesday_20_januaryBinge- drinking leaves no-go areas: Drunken violence has created “no go areas” throughout the country, according to statistics from a government funded poll by Ipsos MORI. One in four people are too scared to go out to certain areas near their home because of the amount of crime and disorder linked to alcohol abuse. The poll revealed widespread support for a ban on drinks promotions in supermarkets and off licences in problem areas. The Royal College of Nursing has also called for “bolder action”, including minimum pricing and tighter rules on labelling, sales and advertising.2010-01-20http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/2010_january/tuesday_19_januaryBanning smoking in cars when children are present: The UK Faculty of Public Health has called for smoking to be banned in cars when children are passengers, in order to reduce their exposure on secondhand smoke. Dr Peter Carter is quoted in The Observer said: “A proposal worth is worth considering to protect children’s health”.2010-01-19http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/2010_january/saturday_16_-_monday_18_januaryIncrease in nurses claiming benefits: There is a 40% increase in nurses signing on for benefits because of job shortages according to figures, obtained by the Nursing Standard. They show 1,225 nurses registered for benefits last month- up 40 per cent on the 875 in the previous December. Experts blame the surge on the fact most vacancies are for experienced staff and that hospitals are hiring part-time agency workers to save money. Josie Irwin, Head of Employment Relations is quoted in the Sunday Mirror said: “All the signs are that workload is increasing and morale is being affected”.2010-01-18http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/2010_january/thursday_14_januaryDementia patients 'being failed by NHS' : A report by the National Audit Office has found that dementia is still not being seen as a priority and doctors and nurses lack knowledge and training on the condition. Janet Davies is quoted as saying, “It is deeply concerning that dementia care is still not getting the attention and investment it needs. In the absence of a cure, this devastating condition is likely to affect increasing numbers of people in years to come and must be seen as a priority. Training and education for healthcare staff working in all settings is vital if meaningful improvements for dementia patients are to be made. Greater investment is also needed for specialist dementia nurses, who provide support for dementia patients, their carers and families.”2010-01-14http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/2010_januaryForty NHS trusts have rented space to fast food franchises: The Sun reports that forty of England's 170 NHS Trusts have rented space to fast food franchises including Subway, Upper Crust, Burger King and Starbucks. Five more trust are reported to have plans for outlets to open. The situation has been criticised by the National Obesity Forum and the British Heart Foundation, but the Department of Health said that “Goods and services should not conflict with the ethos and objectives of health and well-being”.2010-01-13http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/2010_january/tuesday_12_januaryParkinson says care must be improved: After a year as the country's dignity ambassador, Sir Michael Parkinson has called on the government to improve the services for people in care settings. He has published a report on his personal account of the last 12 months. In the report he talks about his visits to various places of care, including hospitals, care homes and hospices and describes stories of good and bad care. The report mentions the RCN campaign, “Dignity at the heart of everything we do’ and the speech Sir Michael gave at Congress in 2009.2010-01-12http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/2010_january/tuesday_5th_januaryConservative Party health pledges: Conservative leader, David Cameron has said that NHS will be his number one priority as he set out 20 health pledges as part of his pre-election campaign. These pledges contained in the first chapter of the Party’s draft manifesto, include the ending of mixed-sex wards, tackling MRSA infection rates, health equalities and maternity reforms. Dr Peter Carter, quoted in The Daily Telegraph and The Sun, said: “The most important thing for any incoming government is to maintain investment in clinical staff and training. We are encouraged to see signs that show Conservatives intend to take a firm stance on public health inequalities but we are disappointed to have not heard more about issues such as tackling alcohol abuse”.2010-01-05http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/2010_january/monday_4_januaryCameron lays out Tory plans for NHS: Conservative leader David Cameron is today expected to lay out his party’s plans for the NHS. The Observer suggests that these plans will see finances diverted to the most deprived areas of the country. The first chapter of the manifesto is also expected to include plans to create an independent NHS board and a pledge to double the number of single rooms over five years.2010-01-05http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/december/thursday_24_decemberTeenage alcohol and drug abuse up, but heroin use falls: Record numbers of teenagers are receiving help for drug and alcohol problems, but the number of those undergoing counselling for heroin and crack use is falling. A total of 24,053 under-18s in England were treated in 2008-09, according to statistics from the NHS National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (NTA). This was 150 more than in the previous year, although the NTA believe demand for specialist services such as counselling and harm reduction is levelling off. The figures also showed that 745 under-18s were treated for cocaine addiction in 2008-09, considerably more than the 453 seen in 2005-06.2009-12-24http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/december/wednesday_23_decemberA&E patients held in wards in order to meet targets: According to a Freedom of Information request by the Conservative party, some patients attending A&E are being moved to emergency assessment units for an average of 17 hours before being seen, allegedly to avoid breaching the four hour target. The Government has said these figures are misleading as they include the time spent in assessment units where patients who need further observation or investigation before a diagnosis can be made are treated.2009-12-23http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/december/tuesday_22_decemberGordon Brown on Labour health policy The Daily Mirror features an interview with Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Amongst the topics discussed is Mr Brown’s belief that the Conservative Party has not made guarantees for patients such as a maximum wait of 18 weeks for NHS treatment. Mr Brown also highlights the Labour’s pledge that all cancer patients will see a specialist within two weeks of referral from a GP.2009-12-22http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/december/saturday_19_december_-_monday_21_decemberPrivate and third sectors challenge NHS competition rules The Financial Times reports that the private and third sectors are challenging the NHS over the policy that NHS organisations are now the preferred provider of NHS care. Both the NHS Partners Network and ACEVO (The Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations) have approached the NHS Co-operation and Competition Panel and argued that preventing non-NHS organisations from bidding for NHS services breaches NHS rules on competition.2009-12-21http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/december/friday_18_decemberClinical negligence figures The Times reports that according to NHS Litigation Authority figures, the legal fees from clinical negligence claims in the NHS amounted to almost half of the £312 million won in damages by victims. Figures also showed that the NHS will payout over £800 million this year – a cost that includes both completed cases and continuing payments. In a separate report, figures obtained by the Conservative Party showed that there were 52,000 clinical negligence claims over the last five years in the NHS.2009-12-18http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/december/saturday_12_december_-_monday_14_decemberGovernment changes rules for ISA vetting system The Government is expected today to make some changes to ISA Vetting and Barring scheme. Following pressure by a number of groups, new recommendations may mean that around two million adults who would have been previously included on scheme, will now be exempt. The key change is that adults will now be vetted if they come into contact with the same group of children once a week or more, rather than once a month at present.2009-12-14http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/december/wednesday_9_decemberRow over swine flu vaccine for under 5s The Daily Mirror reports that NHS Trusts are planning to ask health visitors and district nurses to help vaccinate children aged under five against swine flu. The move comes as talks between Ministers and GPs on the national delivery of the vaccine to healthy children aged between six months and five years have reportedly broken down. NHS Trusts are now negotiating with local GP representatives.2009-12-09http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/december/tuesday_8_decemberQuestions on the safety of the swine flu vaccine The Daily Mail features a report on the swine flu vaccine, asking whether it is safe or not. Manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline says that ongoing trials among a further 10,000 patients have produced positive results and thrown up no safety concerns. The report suggests that less than 50% of doctors and nurses will be having the vaccine, though it notes that the RCN believes the vaccine to be safe and is encouraging members to have it.2009-12-08http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/december/wednesday_2_decemberGovernment warned that planned social worker reforms need new funding John Chowcat, the general secretary of Aspect, the Association of Professionals in Education and Children’s Trusts has warned that the Government’s plans for social worker reform will need new funding. Under the proposals announced, social workers will be better paid, have their workloads reduced and receive better training, however funding would come from existing departmental budgets.2009-12-02http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/december/tuesday_1_decemberPatient safety ‘highest priority’ says Burnham Health Secretary Andy Burnham yesterday defended NHS performance targets saying that the best hospitals provided ‘high quality, safe care’ whilst meeting targets. His comments come after twelve hospitals were listed as ‘significantly underperforming’ in a Dr Foster report, with critics saying that targets mean that hospitals do not always make patient care their main priority. Mr Burnham said that patient safety was his ‘highest priority’ and said that the Care Quality Commission will be introducing more stringent methods of inspecting and analysing hospital performance. Following the weekend’s headlines on hospital performance, The Independent features an analysis of the health analysis company Dr Foster.2009-12-01http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/november/saturday_28_november_-_monday_30_november12 NHS hospital trusts are ‘significantly underperforming’ according to report Dr Foster, the part-public, part-private organisation that analyses NHS data has published a report showing that 12 NHS hospital trusts are ‘significantly underperforming’ on patient safety. Although the report says that 27 trusts have unusually high mortality rates, it also shows that overall there has nationally been a 7% decrease in hospital mortality rates in the last year. News reports focus on the fact that the Care Quality Commission (CQC) rated eight out of twelve of the alleged failing trusts as having either good or excellent overall care. Dr Peter Carter was interviewed this weekend for Sky News and ITV News and is quoted in the Daily Mail saying: that ‘the public need confidence that the regulators have teeth to take prompt and decisive action where necessary, including making more unannounced inspections.’2009-11-30http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/november/friday_27_novemberRegulators demand improvement in Basildon Monitor and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) are intervening at Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust after concerns around leadership and quality of care. A recent CQC investigation into hygiene found failings at the Trust. A separate summary of CQC concerns about care said that basic nursing care was inconsistent and lacking in leadership. Cynthia Bower, the CQC Chief Executive said: “We want to act swiftly at Basildon to nip problems in the bud, working closely with other regulators. The trust has taken our concerns seriously but improvements are simply not happening fast enough. Our confidence in the management’s ability to deliver on commitments and to turn the situation around has been severely dented.”2009-11-27http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/november/wednesday_25_novemberResearch funding diverted to social care The Times reports that Health Secretary Andy Burnham has said that £60 million from the NHS research and development budget will be used to fund the Government’s plans for social care. Mr Burnham said that a further £50 million from the NHS public health promotion budget would be used, with £60 million being generated by cutting spending on management consultants. However some health experts criticised the reduction in the research and development budget, saying that it could damage the NHS in the long-term.2009-11-25http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/november/tuesday_24_novemberNHS must do more to reduce staff sickness says report A Government-endorsed report by Dr Steven Boorman has said that the NHS must do more to reduce staff sickness. The report found that the average NHS employee is off sick for 10.7 days per year, at a cost of over £500 million a year. Recommendations from the report were that staff should not smoke in view of the public and that staff should be offered better quality food from canteens. The report also said that individual trusts should be set targets to reduce smoking and obesity, with the Government pledging an extra £6.5 million to help Trusts implement the recommendations. Dr Peter Carter said: “We need a step change in the way the NHS manages staff health and ¬wellbeing,” adding that staff were working when “not well enough to do so”.2009-11-24http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/november/tuesday_17_novemberDementia care ‘poor’ warns report A report from the Alzheimer’s Society has found that dementia care in the NHS is poor. The survey of 2,400 NHS staff and carers from England, Wales and Northern Ireland found that many patients over 65 are being kept in hospital too long and that their condition was worsening whilst being in hospital. The report also said that the specific care needs of patients - such as being given enough food and water - were often overlooked and called for nurses to receive better training in dementia care. Dr Peter Carter said: “For the majority of patients with dementia to leave hospital in a worse condition than when they arrived is simply unacceptable. It is vital that the government invests in better dementia training for all healthcare staff to ensure these patients receive good quality care.”2009-11-17http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/november/saturday_14_november_-_monday_16_novemberThe Daily Telegraph today includes a letter from Dr Peter Carter, head of the Royal College of Nursing, saying that moving nursing to an all-graduate profession is not about elevating nurses’ status but instead to provide to the necessary training to match the increasing demands of the profession. Dr Carter is quoted saying: “What has changed is that the demand for caring skills has increased. With an ageing population and more people suffering from long-term conditions, nurses will need to deliver care in more settings, have advanced clinical skills and, where necessary, the ability to lead the delivery of services. These skills do not detract from the fundamentals of care.”2009-11-16http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/november/friday_13_novemberThere is widespread coverage in the national press on the announcement from the Department of Health that nursing is to become an all graduate profession from 2013. Many papers report that the RCN has backed the Government’s move, however some critics suggested that the move could deter potential nurses from entering the profession. Dr Peter Carter, head of the RCN said: “Nursing roles are demanding and involve increasingly advanced levels of practice and clinical knowledge. We must ensure that the door to nursing continues to be as wide as possible.” The Times features a leader praising nurse led services and specialist nurses but warns of the dangers of making becoming a nurse more difficult, citing RCN research that in 2007 a third of nurses were thinking of quitting due to poor pay. The Times also features a letter from former RCN President Professor Dame June Clark, saying that the move was overdue and calling for “the old stereotypes of nursing” to be abandoned.2009-11-13http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/november/tuesday_10_novemberNurse Margaret Haywood wins Nursing Standard award RCN member Margaret Haywood has won the Nursing Standard Patient Choice Award at a ceremony in London. Margaret Haywood filmed patients for BBC Panorama in 2005 in order to expose poor patient care, and was struck off by the Nursing and Midwifery Council earlier this year. However, last month the decision was replaced by a one-year caution after a High Court settlement.2009-11-10http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/october2/friday_30_octoberNHS hospital contract offered to private sector The Financial Times reports that the contract to run the Hinchingbrooke, an NHS district general hospital in Huntingdon has been offered to both the private sector and other NHS organisations. Under the terms of the offer the NHS would still own the assets of the hospital, with the new operator having to retain all current services. The NHS said that there was significant interest in the deal from the private sector.2009-10-30http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/october2/thursday_29_octoberNHS accused of not protecting staff from assaults BBC News Online reports that the NHS has been accused of not doing enough to protect its staff from assaults and violence. Figures from the NHS Counter Fraud and Security Management Service show that the number of attacks on NHS staff has decreased from 60,385 attacks in 2004-5 to 55,993 in 2007-8. During the same period, the number of criminal sanctions against offenders has increased by 0.5%, leading to the accusations that the NHS has not done enough to protect its staff. Janet Davies, Royal College of Nursing Executive Director of Nursing and Service Delivery, was interviewed on the subject this morning for BBC Radio 5 Live.2009-10-29http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/october2/wednesday_28_octoberNHS accused of ‘gagging’ whistleblowing doctors The Financial Times reports that the British Medical Journal (BMJ) has alleged that the NHS is using confidentiality clauses to stop employees from raising concerns over patient safety when they leave the NHS. This is despite the fact that confidentiality clauses were banned under the Public Interest Disclosure Act. The BMJ cites a recent example of a senior consultant from NHS Liverpool Women’s NHS Trust who was subject to a confidentiality clause as part of his early retirement package.2009-10-28http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/october2/tuesday_27_octoberHealth professionals urged to have swine flu vaccine NHS bosses have reiterated their call for health professionals to have the swine flu vaccine, saying that the jab will protect both themselves and their patients from swine flu. Andrew MacCallum, Director of Nursing at NHS Chelsea and Westminster Hospital said that he has written to senior nurses and midwives at his hospital encouraging them to get vaccinated as soon as possible. The Royal College of Nursing has urged frontline staff to have the vaccine.2009-10-27http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/october2/saturday_24_october_-_monday_26_octoberHospitals offering ‘assisted self-harming’ to patients The Observer reports on care plans in mental health units which outline the circumstances in which patients can self-harm. Under the care plans, patients must agree to get help from a nurse if their wounds require professional dressing. It is reported that some health professionals say that helping patients self-harm goes against their code of ethics, whilst other say that those who self-harm should be helped to avoid infection from dirty blades. Royal College of Nursing Mental Health adviser Ian Hulatt said: “It is a very complex and confusing issue, but then, so is the phenomenon of someone hurting themselves to feel better.”2009-10-26http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/october2/friday_23_octoberNHS breast cancer screening age limit may be reviewed A report by two NHS managers into age discrimination in the NHS has recommended that women aged over 73 should be entitled to routine breast cancer screening. Presently women are screened between the ages of 50 and 70, with the upper limit expected to rise shortly to 73. The report’s recommendations were backed up by evidence that found that in Britain women aged over 80 had poorer access to tests and treatment than younger women, and that Britain has a higher death rate from breast cancer amongst women aged over 75 when compared to other Western European countries and America. According to The Guardian, Health Secretary Andy Burnham said that the Equality Bill would seek to make ageism in the NHS illegal from 2012.2009-10-23http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/october2/saturday_17_october_-_monday_19_octoberRCN calls for guaranteed safe staffing levels. The RCN’s 2009 Employment Survey has found that four out of ten nurses say that patient care is compromised at least once a week due to staff shortages. The survey also found that 55% of nurses say that they are too busy to provide the level of care they would like to. The RCN also today launches its manifesto which calls on political parties to guarantee safe staffing levels. The RCN’s Labour Market Review today warns that there could be a shortfall in the number of nurses, with 200,000 nurses are due to retire in the next 10 years and there currently not being enough newly qualified nurses entering the profession to replace those retiring. Dr Peter Carter, head of the RCN, said: “Nurses and healthcare assistants feel up against it, worn down and exhausted by the pressure to make efficiencies and frustrated by being prevented from delivering the quality of care they want to be providing. Policy makers must look at the workforce in conjunction with their ability to deliver high quality and safe care.”2009-10-19http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/october2/tuesday_13_octoberWhistleblower nurse Margaret Haywood reinstated: Margaret Haywood, an RCN member who was struck off by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) after she filmed poor patient care at the Royal Sussex Hospital for BBC Panorama, has been reinstated after the NMC reduced her sanction to a one-year caution. The High Court conclusion was announced yesterday afternoon and means that Margaret can return to work. Ms Haywood said: “I am delighted at the verdict which means I will be able to return to nursing. I have been overwhelmed and humbled by the patient and public interest in my case and would like to thank everyone who has supported me, including the RCN for running my appeal.” NMC Chief Executive Kathy George said that guidance would be published next year that explains to nurses and midwives how to appropriately raise and escalate concerns about patient care in a way that is safe for patients and doesn’t bring the professional into conflict with the code of conduct. Dr Peter Carter, head of the RCN, said: “We are pleased with today’s outcome, which means that Margaret will be able to continue practicing as a nurse. In reaching this conclusion it has been recognised that, while the case raised complex questions about competing duties, Margaret had an unblemished career as a nurse and contributed significantly to the care of patients. We would like to thank patients and the public for the vast support they have given her. We consider the matter satisfactorily resolved and all parties can now move on.”2009-10-13http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/october2/saturday_10_october_-_monday_12_octoberNHS spends £1.5 million on private healthcare for staff A series of Freedom of Information requests from the Liberal Democrats have found that between April 2006 and April 2009, the NHS spent around £1.5 million on private healthcare for 3,300 staff. The Patients Association criticised the figures, saying that it sends out mixed messages to patients. Dr Peter Carter, head of the Royal College of Nursing said: “These figure provide further evidence of a need for greater investment in treatment services for work-related problems, such as physiotherapy and counselling services.”2009-10-12http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/september/wednesday_30_septemberPrime Minister outlines election manifesto in crucial speech Prime Minister Gordon Brown yesterday delivered his much anticipated speech at the Labour Party conference, outlining some of Labour’s policies on health and social care for the next general election. Mr Brown announced that elderly people would be given free personal care, with the move being financed by restructuring bureaucracy at the Department of Health and the Department for Communities and Local Government. The Financial Times features an analysis of the plans, saying that around 350,000 people would get free personal care from September 2010, at a cost of £670 million a year. He also said that people who need to be tested for cancer would be able to see a specialist within a week. He also proposed and that Labour would scrap the £1,000 annual tax relief on childcare claimed by around 500,000 working parents, with the money being used to fund free nursery places for 250,000 two-year-olds. Another announcement was that teenage mothers who get support from the taxpayer will be placed in a network of supervised homes, aimed at helping them learn how to raise a child properly. However Labour’s campaign has suffered a setback this morning, with The Sun pledging its support for the Conservative Party in the next general election.2009-09-30http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/september/saturday_26_-_monday_28_septemberSick babies to get individual intensive care: Critically ill newborn babies will get constant one-to-one care from their own specialist nurse under a new government action plan. The final report of a government taskforce inquiry into neonatal care in England, expected to be published within weeks, will specify that all such newborns must always be looked after by their own nurse in order to maximise their chances of recovery. Staff shortages are so acute that only a third of newborns with major medical problems currently get one-to-one nursing care, even though the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and the Royal College of Nursing say they all need it. The NHS is short of an estimated 1,700 neonatal nurses. Today’s Guardian also reports that one in eight mothers with twins or triplets are separated from their babies after birth due to a lack of specialist care units and staff.2009-09-28http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/september/friday_25_septemberSwine flu cases rise: The number of cases of swine flu diagnosed in the past week has doubled for the second week in a row, prompting suggestions that we are entering the second wave of the pandemic. The Health Protection Agency suggested there were 9,000 new cases last week, 4,000 more than the week before.2009-09-25http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/september/thursday_17_septemberHealth Secretary pledges to ‘drive up standards’ to make a ‘great’ NHS Health Secretary Andy Burnham spoke at the King’s Fund this morning, where he set out a series of proposals intended to turn the NHS into a ‘great’ organisation. He said that the service has to become more ‘people-focused’ with more attention on the bedside manner of health professionals, the cleanliness of wards and the quality of food. Some of the improvements would also see hospital budgets linked to patient satisfaction.2009-09-17http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/september/tuesday_15_septemberPolice chief calls for NHS ban for people who abuse health staff The chief constable of South Wales Police has said that people who abuse health service staff should be banned from using NHS services for non-life-threatening instances. The call came at the launch of an initiative to eliminate violence and abuse against NHS staff, which will include more thorough investigations from the police. Tina Donnelly, Director of RCN Wales said: “A strong commitment is imperative to reducing violent and aggressive behaviour and eliminating barriers to reporting incidents of violence. It is important to establish a culture of acceptance for reporting violent incidents as this is a positive step toward creating a safer work environment.”2009-09-15http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/september/saturday_12_-_monday_14_septemberRCN survey finds that school nurses are overburdened A survey from the Royal College of Nursing has found that school nurses are overstretched and overburdened, with the average school nurse looking after 2,590 pupils. The RCN said that the long-term health of a generation of adults could be put in jeopardy if the issues raised by the survey are not addressed. Janet Davies, Executive Director of Nursing and Service Delivery of the Royal College of Nursing said: “As well as playing a key role in safeguarding vulnerable children, they are also central to the battle against child obesity, under-age drinking and teenage pregnancy. The fact that there is a shortage of nurses to meet the rising demand is simply unacceptable.”2009-09-14http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/september/friday_11_septemberChief judge tells of ‘enormous sympathy’ for assisted suicide cases Lord Phillips, the President of the new Supreme Court has said that he has ‘enormous sympathy’ for terminally ill patients who wish to end their lives through assisted suicide. Lord Phillips was the senior Law Lord who earlier this year ruled that the Director of Public Prosecutions must clarify the law on assisted suicide. However he told The Daily Telegraph that he doubted whether a change in the law would produce ‘a more satisfactory answer than the current rules. The articles mention that the Royal College of Nursing has recently moved to having a neutral stance on assisted suicide.2009-09-11http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/september/wednesday_9_septemberHealth Secretary speaks on payments for care In an interview with The Guardian, Health Secretary Andy Burnham has said that planned reforms to the care system must address the issue of homeowners who face having to sell their homes to fund care costs. Mr Burnham used the example of his own constituents, saying that people who have worked hard to buy their own home are ‘being let down by the current system’. Another article in The Guardian also discusses the wider debate on how care and support for older people will be funded.2009-09-09http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/august/saturday_29_august_-_tuesday_1_septemberContinued reaction to Patients Association report on nursing care failings The Independent yesterday had an opinion piece from Kieran Mullan, the Patients Association Policy Director. The article says that the current system for patient complaints is not effective, and that the Health Ombudsman should have a more active role. The article also mentions the Royal College of Nursing. The Daily Telegraph reports that the BBC Radio 4 Today Programme interviewed several nurses on their reaction to the Patients Association report. In the article Dr Peter Carter said: “Poor nursing care can never be excused but to use a survey which shows only two per cent of people reporting poor care to attack an entire profession is unacceptable”. The Sunday Express features an opinion piece on the subject from Patients Association President, Claire Rayner.2009-09-01http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/august/friday_28_augustDepartment of Health reacts to Patients Association report on nursing care failings The Department of Health has responded to the Patients Association report on failings in nursing care. Christine Beasley, the Government’s Chief Nursing Officer, said that in these cases the care offered to patients was ‘clearly unacceptable’ and that nurses should be struck off if their standard of care is at the level highlighted in the report. Dr. Peter Carter, Chief Executive of the Royal College of Nursing said that most nurses were “decent, highly skilled individuals.”2009-08-28http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/august/wednesday_26_augustReform of NHS pension scheme The Times reports that there will be changes made to the NHS pension scheme this autumn. The main change is that the employer’s contribution to the pension scheme has been capped at 14% of the employee’s salary. Health workers earning between £63,000 and £100,000 will now contribute 7.5% of their salary, with workers earning more contributing 8.5%. A further reform is that new NHS staff will now receive their full pension at 65 rather than 60.2009-08-26http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/august/tuesday_25_augustGPs refusing swine flu vaccination A survey from Healthcare Republic has found that many GPs may decline the swine flu vaccination, with 29% of GPs surveyed saying they would opt not to have the vaccine and a further 29% saying they were unsure. 71.3% of the GPs who said they would not have it said that their decision was based on concerns about the safety of the vaccine. The Times reports that the National Institute for Health Research has fast tracked 14 projects on behalf of the Department of Health to determine how contagious the virus is and whether closing schools would help to prevent the virus spreading.2009-08-25http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/august/saturday_22_august_-_monday_24_augustDepartment of Health spent £470m on management consultants in three years Figures obtained from a Freedom of Information act have found that the Department of Health spent £470 million on management consultants in the period from 2005-6 to 2008-9. The figures show that some of the contracts awarded are with firms that have hired senior civil servants and Labour figures, leading to accusations of ‘cronyism’. Dr. Peter Carter, Chief Executive of the Royal College of Nursing said: “We are unable to find any evidence about whether this represents good value.”2009-08-24http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/august/friday_21_augustCameron pledges on NHS spending Conservative Leader David Cameron said yesterday that if elected, the Conservatives would increase NHS spending in line with inflation during the period 2011-14. Mr Cameron also said that the Conservatives would increase efficiency and patient choice in the NHS by increasing competition and opening up services to other providers. The Times reports that if elected, the Conservatives would introduce a separate area of the budget for public health spending.2009-08-21http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/august/thursday_20_augustDecrease in number of deaths from MRSA and C.difficile Figures from the Office of National Statistics show that the number of deaths linked to MRSA and C.difficile decreased in the period 2007-8. The number of MRSA deaths fell to 1,230, a decrease of 23%, and the number of C.difficile deaths fell to 5,931, a decrease of 29%. Dr. Peter Carter, Chief Executive of the Royal College of Nursing said: “For any patient to die as a result of MRSA or C.difficile is an absolute tragedy, but these figures do show a move in the right direction. Nurses have worked hard to ensure infection rates are reduced, improving the quality of care for all patients.”2009-08-20http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/august/wednesday_19_augustNHS staff audit reveals that 45,000 NHS staff call in sick each day A national audit of NHS staff has found that over 45,000 staff call in sick each day – a level of absence one and a half times greater than in the private sector. The review found that a number of staff habits are having a negative effect on patient care. 1.4 million staff were found to have moderate to very poor mental health, with many staff saying that they felt intimidated by patients and relatives. The review also found that around one in five NHS workers smoke and that 40% do not exercise three times a week, as recommended by the Government. Dr Steve Boorman, an occupational health expert who compiled the audit, said that staff health should be a key standard used by the Care Quality Commission when they begin to assess hospitals on the quality of their key standards from next April.2009-08-19http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/august/tuesday_18_augustNurses unwilling to have swine flu vaccine A Nursing Times survey of 1,500 nurses has found that 37% of those surveyed will seek to be immunised when the vaccine becomes available. 30% saying they will not be seeking vaccination and 33% said they were unsure. Many nurses expressed concerns about their health if they were to have the vaccine, with 60% of those who said they would not want the vaccine saying that it was because of safety concerns. Dr. Peter Carter, Chief Executive of the Royal College of Nursing said: “The NHS Occupational Health Service and other community health services must ensure that getting vaccinated is as simple a process as possible. Health staff and patients suffer when nurses are off sick, so it is important that nurses do all they can to prevent themselves becoming ill.”2009-08-18http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/august/saturday_15_august_-_monday_17_augustRow over American health system and NHS: The Independent published letters, including one from Dr Peter Carter, responding to recent criticisms of the NHS which follow public debate about the possibility of a similar system being introduced in the United States. Dr Peter Carter said: “The last few days have seen much heated debate about the virtues of a national health service and so called ‘socialised medicine’. Much of the furore in America has seen fanciful misinformation and often deliberate untruths. Whilst no healthcare system in the world can be called perfect, the NHS is surely more preferable as a system to one where the poorest and most vulnerable are left to fend for themselves. In the United States, 46 million people have no health insurance whatsoever and it’s telling that those who criticise universal healthcare rarely fit into this category. Nurses are immensely proud to be working in the NHS. It is a social force for good, embodying a nation’s belief that no matter what you earn, you have the right to be cared for when you need it.” Further articles from the weekend and today’s papers continue the debate about the health service and report on the political fallout from the debate.2009-08-17http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/august/friday_14_augustSwine flu vaccine priorities announced: More than 13 million people in the UK are due to be offered vaccinations against swine flu as part of a national immunisation programme this autumn. Contrary to previous reports suggesting that the immunisation programme would begin with a mass vaccination of schoolchildren, the priority groups announced by the Chief Medical Officer yesterday include pregnant women, NHS and social care workers, those in contact with people with weakened immune systems and at-risk pensioners. The Daily Mail also reports that the vaccine will be given to children and babies with health problems. Yesterday it was also announced that swine flu infections have continued to fall this week, with an estimated 25,000 new cases being diagnosed.2009-08-17http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/august/wednesday_12_augustMissed appointments costing the NHS £600 million each year BBC News Online reports that missed NHS appointments are costing the NHS around £600 million a year. Figures show that around 6.5 million patients missed appointments between 2007-8.2009-08-12http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/august/tuesday_11_augustHospital scorecard rating scheme launched A website that allows NHS patients to rate and compare hospitals and specific treatments has been launched today. The website will rank hospitals using criteria such as mortality rates, cleanliness and quality of food. Health Secretary Andy Burnham said that the new system would help patients to make the right choices when looking for a hospital.2009-08-11http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/august/saturday_8_august_-_monday_10_augustRegulator warns Foundation Trusts to be ready for spending cuts The NHS Foundation Trust (FT) regulator Monitor has told FTs that they must be prepared for their funding to be reduced. The warning comes after three-year plans produced by FTs showed they were expecting a growth in spending by around 3-4% a year. The Times reports that Monitor has set Foundation Trusts a deadline of the end of September for submitting more realistic budget plans.2009-08-10http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/august/friday_7_augustNHS staff vacancies on the increase The latest figures from the NHS Information Centre show that the number of NHS staff vacancies in England have increased for the first time in five years. The figures also show that around 20% of vacancies are unfilled for at least three months. Nursing vacancies rose from 2.5% in 2008 to 3.1% this year. The Times discuss the issue of the impending retirement of the generation of nurses recruited in the 1960s and say that policy-makers need a ‘far-sighted approach to recruitment’. The Times’ carries a leader saying that the staff vacancy figures are an indication of the lack of funding that is available in the NHS. Dr. Peter Carter, Chief Executive of the Royal College of Nursing is quoted, saying: “While we are concerned about long-term vacancies, even unfilled short-term ones leave nurses under unsustainable pressure and, with higher workloads, too busy to provide the standard of care they would like. Rising vacancy rates are due to a combination of factors — more nurses are retiring and fewer are coming out of training; add to this an increase in demand for nurses, coupled with recent changes in migration policies, restricting recruitment from outside of the EU.”2009-08-07http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/august/thursday_6_augustPoll calls for tougher rules on sale of alcohol A survey of nurses, teachers, doctors, police and public health consultants has found that 62% of those surveyed think that there should be a minimum price per unit for alcohol. 77% want price promotions in bars, pubs and clubs that encourage excessive drinking banned. The survey was carried out by a number of health organisations including the Royal College of Nursing and the charity Alcohol Concern. Dr. Peter Carter, Chief Executive of the Royal College of Nursing said: “Alcohol misuse is our national disgrace. Up and down the country nurses see the devastating effect that alcohol has in blighting the lives of young and old alike. Our message is clear - there must be tighter regulation on the sale, labelling and advertising of alcohol to tackle this growing problem”. In a separate survey of 1,071 16 and 17 year olds from the charity Drinkaware, it was revealed that 8% of those questioned said that they drink at least once a week due to boredom. The survey also found that 29% of those questioned said that they have drunk alcohol due to boredom at some point in their life.2009-08-07http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/august/wednesday_5_augustConservative MP to launch campaign to strengthen the law on assisted suicide The Daily Mail reports that Conservative MP Nadine Dorries is to launch a campaign in the House of Commons to strengthen the law on assisted suicide. In the autumn the MP will start a private member’s bill outlining her proposals. The article notes that the Royal College of Nursing recently moved to adopt a neutral stance on assisted suicide. The Daily Telegraph today reports that Debbie Purdy is hoping that the proposed DPP policy guidance will allow her to die at home instead of travelling overseas.2009-08-05http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/august/tuesday_5_augustAssisted suicide laws will apply to Britain as well as overseas The Director of Public Prosecutions, Keir Starmer, has said that the new guidelines on assisted suicide will apply to people who help loved ones die both in Britain and overseas. It had been assumed that any new guidelines would only apply to people who assist someone in dying abroad, however Mr Starmer said that the “broad principles” of the guidelines would also apply in Britain. The Times letters page features a printed letter from MSP Margo MacDonald, where she discusses assisted suicide and the Member’s Bill she has introduced into the Scottish Parliament on the issue. The Times and The Independent also feature letters on assisted suicide from members of the public.2009-08-04http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/august/saturday_1_august_-_monday_3_augustPratchett calls for ‘right to die’ Novelist Sir Terry Pratchett has said that he wants to be able to die on his own terms. Sir Pratchett, who is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, told the Mail on Sunday that ‘there are people who have a burning passion not to need to be cared for’. In the article he also discusses the role of nurses who work in end-of-life settings. The article notes that the Royal College of Nursing recently moved to adopt a neutral stance on assisted suicide. On Saturday, The Herald printed a letter from Dr. Peter Carter, Chief Executive of the Royal College of Nursing, which outlines the position of the RCN on assisted suicide. Also a letter on Saturday’s Daily Telegraph letters page mentions our position on assisted suicide.2009-08-03http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/july/friday_31_julyDebbie Purdy wins High Court ‘Right to die’ case Debbie Purdy, an MS sufferer who wants to end her life in the Swiss Dignitas clinic, has won a landmark case to have the law on assisted suicide clarified. Ms Purdy had gone to the House of Lords to seek assurances that her husband would not be prosecuted if he accompanied her to the Swiss clinic. The Law Lords said that the law on assisted suicide is unclear and that her human rights would be breached if she was not allowed to end her life with respect and dignity. The ruling means that the Crown Prosecution Service will have to state when it would take action against people who help their loved ones end their lives abroad. Several media outlets note in their reports that the Royal College of Nursing has recently moved to adopting a neutral stance on assisted suicide. The Times features an opinion piece from Lord Falconer on the decision. He discusses the legal ramifications of the ruling from the Law Lords, saying that “the law should be clear enough for us to know what is and is not lawful.”2009-07-31http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/july/thursday_30_julyRoyal College of Nursing explains its position on assisted suicide In response to comments made in The Times’ opinion pages yesterday, The Times today printed a letter from Dr. Peter Carter, Chief Executive of the Royal College of Nursing, which explains the RCN’s position on assisted suicide. The letter says: “Sir, Considering the understandably strong opinions held on the issue of assisted suicide, I feel it essential that the Royal College of Nursing’s recent change of policy is clearly understood. First, to clarify, the RCN’s position of neutrality is not implicit support for assisted suicide and we are absolutely not advising nurses to engage in dialogue with patients on this contentious issue. The law is clear that to do so would be a criminal offence. Second, in relation to the Bill in Scotland we are not working to help Margo MacDonald, MSP, to get her proposals through the Scottish Parliament. Third, it is important to make clear that our consultation process was robust. As well as drawing more than 1,200 detailed responses we also held discussions at our congress and took submissions from our forums. Overall our consultation reached 175,000 members. The RCN’s strength on this issue is that it is able to encompass a broad range of views and while through a representative council we have changed our stance to neutral — leading inevitably to passionate debate on all sides — it is clear that common themes of improving palliative care, safeguarding the nurse-patient relationship and protecting vulnerable patients are absolutely unmovable.”2009-07-30http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/july/wednesday_29_julyFormer doctor challenges police after admitting to paying for friend to end life at suicide clinic A former doctor and campaigner for the legalisation of assisted suicide has called for the police to arrest him after admitting that he gave a friend £1,500 to help fund the cost of going to the Dignitas clinic in Switzerland to end his life. The 78-year-old former doctor was struck off the medical register in 2005 for helping a friend to die and is quoted in The Times as saying he would plead guilty as a ‘martyr’ if charged by the police. The same article notes that the Royal College of Nursing have moved to adopting a neutral stance on assisted suicide. Elsewhere in The Times Baroness Emerton writes an opinion piece that is critical of the RCN’s neutral stance. She says that her experience of the nursing profession is that ‘the majority of nurses remain opposed to helping their patients to kill themselves’ and that she believes that it is ‘dangerous’ for nurses to engage in dialogue on assisted suicide. She is also critical of the RCN’s consultation process, saying that the sample of nurses’ opinion taken is too small to warrant moving to adopt a neutral stance. Dr. Peter Carter, Chief Executive of the Royal College of Nursing, is quoted saying: “Actively assisting someone to die is a crime and we are not advising our members to do anything illegal. Our members are split 50/50 on changing the law and we feel that a neutral position on the issue is an accurate reflection of that. We do not accept that we have misrepresented their views.” The Times also features several letters on the subject of assisted suicide, with the neutral stance of the RCN being discussed.2009-07-29http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/july/tuesday_28_julyDoctors warned not to talk to patients about assisted suicide The Medical Defence Union has warned its members that they could face a criminal investigation if they discuss assisted suicide with patients. The Union’s solicitor, Ian Barker, said that members could be approached for advice by patients “as a result of the Royal College of Nursing stating in news reports that it wishes to ‘engage in a debate’ with its nurse members about assisted suicide and the recent media interest in this issue.” The Independent has an opinion piece which contains a brief segment on the RCN’s move to adopt a neutral stance on assisted suicide.2009-07-28http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/july/saturday_25_july_-_monday_27_julyRoyal College of Nursing adopts neutral stance on assisted suicide The Royal College of Nursing has moved to adopt a neutral stance on assisted suicide. The decision comes after the RCN Council voted on Friday in favour of the change. The RCN conducted a three month consultation of its members on assisted suicide, with 49% of members supporting the issue, 40% opposing and 9% stating they were neutral. On Saturday, a poll from The Times found that 74% of people want doctors to be allowed to help terminally ill patients to end their lives, with support being particularly strong from people aged 55-64. A poll from The Metro today found that 50% of people would consider helping a terminally ill friend or family member die. A spokesperson from Dignity In Dying said that “the law is clearly out of step with public opinion”. The issue received widespread coverage this weekend from both print and broadcast outlets. Dr Peter Carter, RCN Chief Executive, said: “Assisted suicide is a complicated issue and this was reflected in the range and variety of responses that we received. The split in responses shows that there is no overwhelming support among nurses for either opposing or supporting a change in the law. We fully support the common themes that came through the consultation, namely maintaining the nurse-patient relationship, protecting vulnerable patients and making sure there is adequate investment in end-of-life care.” Sandra James, Chair of RCN Council said: “In reaching our decision we considered individual members' opinions as well as the views from RCN branches and forums, and non-RCN affiliated bodies.”2009-07-27http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/july/wednesday_22_julyNHS hospital faces partial sell-off: Under plans from the East of England Strategic Health Authority, the private sector is to be invited for the first time to partially take over and run a large NHS hospital including its accident and emergency and maternity services. The Department of Health and the Treasury are reported to be backing plans to call for bids on Hinchingbrooke Hospital in Huntingdonshire.2009-07-23http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/july/thursday_23_julyGovernment launches consultation on mental health and wellbeing: The Government has announced the launch of a new consultation intended to improve the mental health of the nation. The New Horizons document aims to bring together the NHS, local authorities, schools, employers and the criminal justice system to target the root causes of poor mental health. People are urged to connect with family, friends, colleagues and neighbours and to take part in activities such as cycling and gardening. The proposals also suggest allotments, computer training and reading groups could be offered to over-50s to help them maintain good mental health. Dr Peter Carter is quoted as saying: "The chances are that everyone knows someone with a mental health issue, yet for far too long mental health has been hidden behind closed doors. Bringing the issue of mental health and well-being into the mainstream and making it everybody's business is clearly a step in the right direction."2009-07-23http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/july/saturday_18_july_-_monday_20_julyWarning of tax rises to maintain NHS spending: In a joint report, The King's Fund and the Institute for Fiscal Studies have warned that maintaining NHS spending levels would force either tax rises or cuts in the budgets of other departments. The report suggests that taxes would need to rise by £340 a year per family to prevent spending cuts.2009-07-20http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/july/tuesday_14_julyNational care service to help ageing population: Proposals to set up a national care service which provides care for our ageing population are expected to be announced today as the Government unveils its Green Paper on care and support. It has been suggested that plans will include a £10,000 “one-off” tax to stop thousands being forced to sell their homes or use savings to meet the cost of care. The system is expected to be partly funded by the State and partly by the individual. In a comment article in The Guardian, Polly Toynbee describes the proposals as “brave”, while highlighting the opposition they may face.2009-07-14http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/july/monday_13_julyFairer bursary system needed to keep more student nurses in training: The Guardian published a letter to the editor from the RCN responding to an article last week reporting that applications for nursing degrees have increased by 24%. Professor Peter Carter said: “It was encouraging to see that nursing saw the second biggest increase in university applications last year (Mature students fuel 50,000 shortfall in university places, 10th July) with applications up 24%. However, this figure is misleading and masks a worrying recruitment crisis in our nursing workforce. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has consistently stated that 200,000 nurses will retire over the next ten years and we have nowhere near the numbers needed to replace them. This is partly because of an unfair and discriminatory method of handing out nursing bursaries in England which results in a quarter of would-be nurses dropping out of their courses. This alone costs the taxpayer an estimated £99 million every year. Add to this the fact that whilst applications may continue to rise, the number of nursing places does the opposite. It’s hardly a surprise that the number of qualified nurses entering the market is so far short of where it needs to be given the huge numbers due to retire. With universities cutting available places and the government not funding students in a manner that keeps them in education the reality is we are facing a recruitment time bomb.”2009-07-13http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/july/friday_10_julyNursing degrees see a 24% increase in number of applicants: Figures from the universities admissions service Ucas show that the number of applicants to university nursing courses has increased by 24% in the last twelve months. The growth in applications is said to be partly due to a substantial increase in mature students applying to university. Across all subjects, the number of applicants aged 21-24 increased by 14.9%, with the number of applicants aged over 25 increasing by 18.8%.2009-07-10http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/july/thursday_9_julySocial Care Green Paper delayed: The Guardian reports that the Social Care Green Paper has been delayed due to concerns from within the Government that the document will be seen as a means of taking up to £10 billion away from benefit claimants. The document is expected to reform the social care system by offering people the opportunity to pay for residential care by making a one-off payment of £12,000, thus avoiding the prospect of having to sell their home to pay for care. The article says that the Government is now running out of time to launch the Green Paper before the summer Parliamentary recess on July 21st and a crucial by-election on July 23rd.2009-07-09http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/july/wednesday_8_julyHouse of Lords reject assisted suicide bid: The House of Lords have rejected a proposed amendment to the Coroners and Justice Bill that would have lifted the threat of prosecution to those people helping terminally ill patients to travel to a country where euthanasia is legal. The vote was 194-141 against the proposal. The proposer, Lord Falconer, said that currently there was a legal ‘no-man’s land’ around assisted suicide, however opponents called the proposal the first step to legalising euthanasia.2009-07-08http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/july/tuesday_7_julyHouse of Lords to debate assisted suicide: The House of Lords will today debate a proposed amendment to the Coroners and Justice Bill that says that the law should be changed to remove the threat of prosecution to friends and relatives who take a terminally ill relative abroad to kill themselves. The Daily Telegraph features a comment piece on the issue from Ian McColl, a former university professor, who says that recent votes on the issue at key conferences shows that doctors do not want the amendment to be passed.2009-07-07http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/july/saturday_4_july_-_monday_6_julyReport reveals thousands of patients are victims of neglect and errors in hospitals: A report from the Patients’ Association has found that thousands of patients have suffered cruelty, neglect or been the victim of errors in hospitals. The Patients’ Association said that over 5,000 people contacted their helpline in 2008 to say that either they or a relative had suffered poor care, with there being many instances of patients dying in pain or losing their dignity. The most common problems reported were NHS staff who lacked passion, or who failed to communicate. There were also many complaints of medical errors, or staff failing to act on key information from medical records. Dr. Peter Carter, Chief Executive & General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing said: “We will not defend nurses who behave in ways that are contrary to the principles and ethics on which nursing is founded. I do believe the vast majority of nurses are decent, highly skilled individuals, and most surveys of patient satisfaction back that up, but we have to face up to the fact that there are some who become inured to what patients are going through”. He also warned that “a target-driven culture” had increased pressure on staff to deal with higher numbers of patients more quickly.2009-07-06http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/july/friday_3_julyConservatives suggest economic downturn could mean NHS pay cuts: Conservative Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley has hinted that the current economic climate may mean that NHS staff will have their pay cut. He said financial pressures could see the NHS move to a position “where pay is instead defined by what is necessary to recruit, retain and motivate the staff, and also what is affordable for local healthcare providers”. Josie Irwin, Head of Employment Relations at the Royal College of Nursing said: “Given that we are about to enter a period when there is a shortage of nurses, it would be foolish to freeze pay when we should be looking at ways to entice more people to join the profession”.2009-07-03http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/july/thursday_2_julyNHS needs to increase productivity to survive budget cuts: The Independent reports that on Tuesday, Audit Commission Chief Executive Steve Bundred told the Local Government Association Annual Conference that he considers Labour and Tory pledges to protect health and education from spending cuts is a ‘big mistake’ as they have been well funded by are inefficient. An accompanying opinion column says that despite NHS funding being protected for the next two years, the NHS needs to increase its efficiency now in order to be able to operate effectively if funding is cut after 2011. The column says there are plans from 2010 to cut the prices paid by Primary Care Trusts to hospitals for procedures and services. This would mean that hospitals will have to increase their productivity to maintain their income. However the column suggests more radical reforms, including the NHS abandoning costly procedures, such as tonsillectomies, that have been rendered obsolete by more modern treatments.2009-07-03http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/july/wednesday_1_july2,882 deaths a year in Scotland due to alcohol abuse: New figures from NHS Scotland show that alcohol contributed to 2,882 deaths in Scotland in one year. The figures include deaths that directly link to alcohol, as well as indirect links, such as drink-driving. RCN Scotland spokesperson Kate Macaulay said: “We welcome the measures that the Scottish Government is proposing to reduce excessive consumption if they result in lower levels of alcohol misuse and better public health. All of the practical measures that are being put forward by the Scottish Government must be matched by educational and health promotional work from the earliest ages right through to older adults if we are genuinely going to tackle this growing health time bomb.”2009-07-01http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/june/tuesday_30_junePrime Minister pledges health entitlements: Yesterday, Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced a series of entitlements for patients. Patients are now entitled to be able to see a cancer specialist within two weeks and will have a maximum wait of 18 weeks before starting hospital treatment. Mr Brown also said more detail would follow later in the year, including on reforming maternity services. Tom Sandford, Director of RCN England, said that cancer patients would be reassured that they will be seen within two weeks, but the majority of patients already are seen in this period. He added: “Whether it's called a standard, target, objective or entitlement, what matters is that clinical decisions drive patient care.”2009-06-30http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/june/saturday_27_june_-_monday_29_juneGovernment gives NHS patients new treatment rights Prime Minister Gordon Brown will today unveil the document Building Britain’s Future which includes six new ‘rights’ to be given to NHS patients. The rights include patients being entitled to an operation within 18 weeks after first seeing their GP and being entitled to see a cancer specialist within two weeks. Patients suffering from long-term conditions will have the right to die at home.2009-06-29http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/june/friday_26_juneFailings in health and social care contributed to child abuse death A report into the death of a 16-month-old girl in Doncaster in 2007 has found that health and social care authorities missed signs of abuse and neglect. The report found that authorities had ‘sufficient information to conclude that the child was at risk of significant harm’ but poor communication between departments meant that authorities did not make a proper assessment of the child. The report found that in the case of another child’s death from abuse, Doncaster council had missed signs that the child was at risk in their current household. The report went on to describe Doncaster Council’s Children’s and Services Department as ‘chaotic and dangerous’. The council has confirmed that a multi-agency training programme is now in place to ensure that everyone providing child services are meeting their responsibilities.2009-06-26http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/june/thursday_25_junePolice will not charge staff from hospital hit by superbug: A police investigation into the outbreak of C.Difficile at the Vale of Leven Hospital, Dunbartonshire, has resulted in no staff facing criminal charges. Campaigners have called for an independent public inquiry into the outbreak, which led to 18 deaths at the hospital. Theresa Fyffe, Director of RCN Scotland said: “Criminal proceedings would not necessarily have found the answers that the families of those who died deserve. It is important the public inquiry into the C.diff outbreak at Vale of Leven moves ahead as quickly as possible. Health boards need to ensure that they learn from what happened and implement any changes necessary to try to minimise the chances of such an outbreak in the future”.2009-06-25http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/june/wednesday_24_juneSmoking increasing in Scotland amongst teenage boys: Smoking amongst teenage boys in Scotland is increasing according to the Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey, which questioned over 10,000 13-15 year-olds. Figures showed that the number of 13 year-olds who are regular smokers was at 3% in 2008, down from 5% in 2006. However amongst 15 year-olds the number of boys who are regular smokers has increased from 12% in 2006 to 14% in 2008. The survey found a decline in teenagers who regularly consume alcohol. The number of 13 year-olds who drink alcohol on a weekly basis had declined from 14% in 2006 to 11% in 2008. Amongst 15 year-olds this number also declined, with figures falling from 36% in 2006 to 31% in 2008. However, amongst the 15 year-olds that do drink alcohol, the average weekly consumption is 21 units. Theresa Fyffe, Director of RCN Scotland said: “We need a culture shift in our attitude to alcohol. All of the practical measures that are being put forward by the Scottish Government must be matched by education and health promotional work in our schools and communities if we are genuinely going to change hearts and minds.2009-06-24http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/june/tuesday_23_juneChanging policy on hernia treatment: The Daily Mail reports that six regional health authorities are changing their policy on treating hernias. Rather than immediate surgery a policy of “watchful waiting” is now being adopted, with the patient only being given surgery if they are experiencing pain or if the hernia grows. Many hernia sufferers are said to experience debilitating symptoms post-surgery, which would be prevented by avoiding surgery. However critics argue that the change in policy is an attempt to cut costs with hernia surgery costing the NHS around £100 million each year.2009-06-23http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/june/saturday_20_june_-_monday_22_juneEconomic downturn stopping smokers quitting: A new study indicates that the economic downturn and concerns over job security and paying household bills are stopping smokers from quitting. According to figures to be presented at the UK National Smoking Cessation Conference, 23% of smokers said that they were planning to delay quitting, with 28% of smokers saying that over the last six months they have been too stressed to mount a successful to quit. Jennifer Percival, Royal College of Nursing Tobacco Policy Adviser, is quoted as saying “This study shows that over two million people are delaying quit plans and exposing themselves to the harmful effects of smoking for longer than they need to. We know that the earlier people quit, the better, so we need to make sure that those who are delaying quit plans are being offered effective options and support to help them to stop smoking successfully.”2009-06-22http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/june/friday_19_juneNHS meets target for C.Difficile reductions: New figures from the Health Protection Agency shows that cases of C.Difficile have been reduced by 36% in 2008/9 when compared to the same period last year. The NHS was set a target to reduce cases of C.Difficile by 30% by 2010/11. Figures showed that cases of MRSA in 2008/9 have reduced by 29%.2009-06-19http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/june/thursday_18_juneMPs report on Agenda for Change finds no evidence of savings and improved efficiency: The Commons Public Accounts Committee have published a report that criticises the Agenda for Change NHS pay reforms. The report claims there is no evidence that the reforms have delivered improvements to efficiency or a predicted saving of £1.3 billion since the scheme was introduced in 2005. Dr Peter Carter, Chief Executive & General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing said: “Critics are wrong to speak out after so little time to say the changes have not brought about improvements. It is no coincidence that in recent years the Healthcare Commission has rated more and more Trusts excellent or good, or that the 18 week target has been achieved way ahead of schedule. Transferring over a million staff to a new pay system in such a short time is no mean feat. NHS staff and employers have worked closely together to achieve this. There is plenty of evidence to show Agenda for Change has made the NHS a better place for patients and for staff.”2009-06-18http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/june/wednesday_17_juneNHS management training schemes proving popular amongst graduates: NHS Management say that their graduate training scheme has had 14,000 applications this year, an increase of 5,000 from 2008 The two year graduate management training scheme will have 240 graduates in its September intake, 20 more than last year. Experts say that graduates are looking for a job that will be more meaningful and rewarding, and that the NHS Management scheme is attractive to graduates as it offers job security and a pension.2009-06-17http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/june/tuesday_16_juneNurse contracts swine flu: A nurse who treated Jacqueline Fleming, the first person in the UK to die from swine flu, has been confirmed to have contracted the virus. The nurse, who worked at Southern General Hospital, Glasgow, is not said to be seriously ill. The Department of Health yesterday said that there are 1,391 confirmed cases of swine flu in Britain.2009-06-16http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/june/saturday_13_june_-_monday_15_juneHouse of Lords reform: A column in The Times proposes reforms to the current system of appointing peers to the House of Lords. The articles says that there should be strict limits on the number of peers appointed by the Government, and that the remainder of the House should be filled by members of professional bodies, suggesting the Royal College of Nursing as well as others including the British Medical Association and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.2009-06-15http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/june/friday_12_juneDepartment of Health meets target on reducing hospital superbugs: A report from the National Audit Office has found that the Department of Health has met its target to cut the infection rates of superbugs MRSA and C.Difficile. Cases of MRSA have decreased by 57% with cases of C.Difficile down by 41%. However cases of other infections are increasing, with cases of MSSA up by 9% in the period from 2004 to 2008. Health experts called on the Government to monitor and reduce cases of other hospital acquired infections. Dr. Peter Carter, Chief Executive and General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing said: “More needs to be done.” The Daily Telegraph reports that cases of MRSA are still increasing in 10% of hospital trusts, with C.Difficile cases increasing in 20% of hospital trusts.2009-06-12http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/june/thursday_11_juneNurses earn £10,000 less than London tube drivers: The Daily Telegraph reports that the average London nurse earns £10,000 less than a London tube driver, who has an annual salary of £40,000. The article says: “The Royal College of Nursing confirmed that a qualified nurse would earn an average of £30,000 in London.”2009-06-12http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/june/wednesday_10_juneNHS budget cuts will put jobs at risk: Health experts fear between 2011 and 2014 there will be NHS budget cuts, estimated to be between £15 billion and £20 billion. These cuts are said to be putting NHS jobs at risk, with it also thought that many services in the NHS will have to be redesigned and streamlined in order to continue to function. The NHS Confederation are today expected to call for the NHS to adequately prepare for these reductions in funding. Health Secretary Andy Burnham said: “We agree with the NHS Confederation that there is still great potential for improvements in the way health services are delivered, but this is not a crisis. As the Prime Minister recently stated to the Royal College of Nursing, the NHS will continue to benefit from real terms growth year-on-year”.2009-06-10http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/june/tuesday_9th_juneNurse calls for reforms to end of life care: A senior oncology nurse has spoken to The Guardian calling for reforms to end of life care in the NHS. She says that the NHS needs to train specialist staff to support dying patients and their relatives.2009-06-09http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/june/saturday_6_june_-_monday_8_juneBritish nurse honoured: A British nurse has been given the Legion d’Honneur, a prestigious French military award, for her work on D-Day. Vera Hay, 87, became a member of the Queen Alexandra’s Nursing Corps in 1943 and landed on Gold Beach on D-Day. She later treated wounded soldiers in Bayeux, France.2009-06-08http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/june/friday_5_juneManagement consultancy costs NHS over £300m: According to a Health Select Committee report, over £300m was spent by the NHS on management consultants in 2008. The Health Select Committee said that they were concerned that the NHS does not keep centralised records of money spent on management consultants and called for a full breakdown of NHS spending on management consultants. BBC News Online also says that the Royal College of Nursing has previously called for the NHS to reduce their use of management consultants.2009-06-05http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/june/thursday_4_juneNurse contracts swine flu: A nurse working at Southern General Hospital, Glasgow has become the first British healthcare worker to be infected with swine flu. The 26-year-old nurse was treating a patient who is now in intensive care after becoming critically ill with the virus. Yesterday the Health Protection Agency announced that there were 18 new swine flu cases in England and 23 new cases in Scotland.2009-06-04http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/june/wednesday_3_juneIncrease in female doctors in NHS: According to new figures, the amount of female doctors in the NHS is increasing, with the majority of doctors in GP surgeries and hospitals expected to be women by 2017. Statistics also show that among female consultants, 44% are paediatricians and 49% are in public health. However, numbers are also increasing in traditionally male-dominated areas such as emergency medicine and anaesthetics.2009-06-03http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/june/tuesday_2_juneAssisted suicide hearing in House of Lords: MS sufferer Debbie Purdy will today address the House of Lords in an attempt to clarify the legislation affecting assisted suicide. As it stands, it is illegal for friends and relatives to help someone to travel abroad to commit suicide, however no-one has been charged over helping someone travel to the Swiss Dignitas clinic to die. Later this week Lord Falconer will table an amendment to the Coroners and Justice Bill in an attempt to allow friends and relatives to help someone to travel abroad to commit suicide.2009-06-02http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/june/saturday_30_may_-_monday_1_juneNurses to get bigger pensions if they postpone retiring: The Department of Health is planning to offer nurses bigger pensions if they continue to work until 65. Nurses would usually retire at 60, however a shortfall of 25,000 nurses is predicted by 2016 with over 200,000 nurses expected to retire in the next eight years. Under the new proposals the minimum extra pension will be £400 per year. Nurses who stay on in employment will be able to draw their pension in addition to their salary as they continue working. Royal College of Nursing Senior Employment Relations Adviser Verity Lewis said: “It is great they have the choice to stay on”.2009-06-01http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/may/friday_29_mayLimited take-up of Patient Choice system: The Sun reports that new figures show that the Government’s Patient Choice scheme, that allows patients to choose the hospital for their operation, has so far had a limited take-up. Three percent of patients in rural areas and six percent of patients in urban areas are said to have used the scheme.2009-05-29http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/may/thursday_28_mayPrivate hospital charging insured patients more: According to The Daily Mail, the Nuffield Hospital in Chichester has a different pricing policy for insured patients, charging them more than patients without insurance. One patient says they received a £477 bill for an MRI scan, only to have the bill reissued at £720 once it became clear they had health insurance.2009-05-28http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/may/wednesday_27_mayWhistleblowers should be given better protection: The Daily Telegraph reports that an editorial in The British Medical Journal warns that another hospital scandal could ‘already be happening’ as staff are fearful of speaking out with their concerns. The BMJ goes on to say that NHS whistleblowers should be given better legal protection.2009-05-27http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/may/saturday_23_may_-_tuesday_26_mayNurses raised concerns about care standards at Gosport: The Independent on Sunday has a feature on the enquiry into patient deaths at Gosport War Memorial Hospital. The article says that in 1991 two nurses raised concerns into the care of elderly patients with senior hospital staff and the Royal College of Nursing, however the 'matter was closed' by the hospital trust. The article calls for a public inquiry into the incidents, saying that the trust 'inadequately investigated'.2009-05-26http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/may/friday_22_mayLetter proposing changes to Parliamentary system: The Times’ letters page features a letter proposing a new ‘united independents movement’. The changes would involve candidates being nominated by “non-partisan, non-political institutions that still enjoy widespread public confidence”, including the Royal College of Nursing. Other institutions named include the RSPCA, The Fire Services Association, Shelter and the National Trust.2009-05-22http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/may/thursday_21_mayCalls for £1.7 billion NHS surplus to be spent on frontline services: Health experts yesterday called for more money to be spent on frontline services after it was announced that the NHS has a budget surplus of £1.7 billion. The surplus is said to represent around 2% of the annual NHS expenditure, and experts have expressed concern that patients could be receiving a better service. Janet Davies, Royal College of Nursing Executive Director of Nursing and Service Delivery said: “A £1.7bn surplus is £1.7bn which must be spent on improving patient care and the Government must make clear how it plans to use this money. While we are encouraged that the NHS is on a firm financial footing, it is absolutely vital that this surplus goes straight to frontline services.”2009-05-21http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/may/wednesday_20_mayNHS management consultant spending: Figures from the Royal College of Nursing show that the NHS spent over £350 million on management consultants in England in 2008. In separate statistics compiled by Pulse magazine the average spent last year by each Primary Care Trust was said to be £1.2 million.2009-05-20http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/may/tuesday_19_mayChlamydia increase amongst teens: According to new figures, cases of chlamydia among under-16s increased by 58% from 2,474 to 3,913 in the four years since a national screening programme was introduced for chlamydia in 2003. Figures also show that in 2008 over 2,000 15 year-olds were infected with chlamydia.2009-05-19http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/may/saturday_16_may_-_monday_18_mayWales needs more nurses to care for sick and premature babies: Sick and premature babies in Wales are being put at risk by insufficient neonatal services, according to the Royal College of Nursing and the neonatal charity Bliss. Wales is said to lack dedicated ambulance crews for transporting babies. There are also staffing shortages of specialist doctors and nurses, meaning that babies often have to travel long distances for treatment without the necessary transport. Director of RCN Wales Tina Donnelly said: “Potentially, that's exactly what happens. If you know that you need higher specialist skills and you need to get a baby to that area very quickly and you can't because there's not the transport, the longer the baby is not with those clinical areas of expertise then potentially there is that baby being put at risk.” Speaking on the RCN’s claims that the country has a shortage of 120 specialist neonatal nurses, she also said: “These are a very, very specialised group of nurses. We have to be able to recognise that the training that needs to be in put in place will be at different levels. We're not even providing the first level of training here for those nurses in Wales.”2009-05-18http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/may/thursday_14_may_-_friday_15_mayThe man to defuse the nursing retirement timebomb: A feature article in The Times focuses on Royal College of Nursing Chief Executive & General Secretary Dr. Peter Carter, who addressed the issue of the decline in nursing numbers this week at Congress. The article praises Dr. Carter for ‘raising the profile of the profession among the political elite’ with Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Conservative Party Leader David Cameron speaking at Congress. Dr Carter said: “In the last year, the number of nurses asking the RCN for advice about mortgage payments or debt troubles rose by 76 per cent. A nurse earns on average just over £24,000. In the current climate, that does not go far. We need to get across to young people that nursing really is an attractive career. It’s clear that the image of nursing does not reflect the reality. People may come into the profession with good intentions, but things can go wrong if they’re not properly trained. These days, a nurse may be leading a team of experts in a specialist hospital, helping a 40-a-day smoker to stop or caring for a sick baby in an intensive care unit. They are the glue which holds the health service together. We’ve seen recent examples in Mid Staffordshire, Bristol Children’s Hospital and Harrow where terrible things happen due to a lack of trained staff.”2009-05-15http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/may/wednesday_13_maySchool nurses staffing crisis: School nurses are finding it difficult to cope with their workload according to a new survey from the Royal College of Nursing. The College found that nurses have been given significantly more work in child protection since the Baby P case. However school nurse staffing levels are dangerously low, with a nurse looking after 2,500 schoolchildren on average, and the College fears that this may mean that another child protection tragedy could go unnoticed. Dr. Peter Carter, Royal College of Nursing Chief Executive and General Secretary said: “We believe there's a major problem. We don't think we are in a position to be able to afford children the protection they need and the assessments simply because there are insufficient staff. In the wake of Baby P, logic must suggest there’s a huge problem out there that we are not aware of. We become aware of it when there’s tragic consequences. Let's get upstream, let's get nurses into the schools because logic suggests there’s other Baby P's out there, that a lot of children are suffering but it’s not being recognised. School nurses tell us they are finding it really hard to cope. It really does point to a worrying state of affairs and we are not meeting the needs of our children.” The College said that the Government needs another 709 nurses for 3,343 schools in order to meet its target for 2010. Speaking on this, Dr. Carter said: “For the target to happen, we would need as much progress in one year as we have seen in the last four. If we had the school nurses we would be able to reduce obesity, we wouldn't have so many teenage pregnancies and we wouldn't have so many teenage abortions.”2009-05-13http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/may/monday_11_may_-_tuesday_12_mayRCN warns of NHS recruitment problems: The Royal College of Nursing has today warned that the NHS is facing major nursing recruitment problems. The College said that over 200,000 nurses are due to retire in the next ten years and that the Government is not doing enough to promote nursing to school children. A new survey from the RCN revealed that nursing is not considered a popular profession amongst seven to 17 year-olds, reasons cited including a dislike for blood and a low starting salary. Dr. Peter Carter, Royal College of Nursing Chief Executive and General Secretary said: “It's clear that the image of nursing does not reflect reality. Modern nursing is a dynamic career, providing an incredibly broad range of opportunities and a real chance to have an interesting, successful career that makes a real difference to other people's lives. Often older recruits join the profession after becoming disillusioned with seemingly more popular careers and wish they had done so years earlier. We want more young people to join the profession and experience all it has to offer.”2009-05-12http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/may/saturday_9_may_-_sunday_10_maySurvey reveals inadequate hospital facilities for nurses to clean equipment: A survey of 2,000 nurses from the Royal College of Nursing has found that there is a serious lack of facilities in hospitals for nurses to clean equipment. 37% of nurses surveyed said that they had no access to a room for cleaning equipment, with 32% saying that they have to decontaminate vital equipment in a bathroom. 34% of nurses in the survey said that they are responsible for cleaning equipment as part of their job, however they have never received any training on how to decontaminate equipment. Royal College of Nursing Chief Executive & General Secretary, Dr. Peter Carter, said: "Having the time and space to clean and then store essential everyday hospital equipment such as IV stands, commodes and patient cushions is crucial in keeping patients safe from dangerous infections. It's shocking that some nurses have no choice but to store equipment in hospital bathrooms. People need to recognise that fighting infection is about much more than just hand washing. Every trust should protect training budgets for nurses and make sure that every nurse in the country is given the opportunity to update their infection prevention training. Every nurse should have access to round-the-clock cleaning services. Overall, infection rates have been going down over the past couple of years, but that's from a very high point indeed." Shadow Health Minister Anne Milton said: "This is yet more evidence that nurses aren't getting the support they need. Given that three times as many people now die from hospital infections each year than die on Britain's roads it is simply unacceptable to find basic standards of hygiene are not being met because the resources aren't available. Nurses are being put in an impossible position. It's unfair on them and unfair on patients." The Department of Health said: "We have made substantial investment - an additional £270m a year by 2010/2011 - for the NHS to tackle healthcare associated infections. Trusts must make adequate arrangements for decontamination, out-of-hours cleaning and staff training in infection prevention and control."2009-05-12http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/RCN_health_news_alert/updates/may/friday_1_mayCommunications update2009-05-01