Health Board must implement Vale of Leven recommendations, says RCN Scotland
Published: 07 August 2008
RCN Scotland has welcomed the ‘Independent Review of Clostridium difficile Associated Disease at the Vale of Leven Hospital’ and is pleased that the Scottish Government will be implementing its recommendations in full.
The Review and the commitment that the Cabinet Secretary has made to the future of the hospital ends the period of uncertainty for the families involved and for nurses, other staff and patients at the hospital.
Commenting on the Review’s recommendations, RCN Scotland Director Theresa Fyffe said:
“At the Vale of Leven Hospital nurses and other staff have suffered ten years of uncertainty about their future. According to a recent review sponsored by the RCN, staff morale is linked to improved outcomes for Healthcare Associated Infections (HAIs) such as C. difficile. As a result today’s announcements can only improve patient care at the hospital.
“As this Review shows, there is rarely a single cause for outbreak of infection or a simple cure. Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board must now fully implement the Review’s recommendations to ensure that patients and their families are assured a safe and worry-free hospital stay.
“Specifically, RCN Scotland would urge the Government to ensure that the Health Board fully implements the recommendation to ‘strengthen, support and empower the role of the Charge Nurse’. The role of Senior Charge Nurse is currently being implemented across the country and can make a real difference.
“To ensure the welfare of patients, Senior Charge Nurses must be given the autonomy to run the ward and have a clear and unambiguous reporting mechanism to senior management. This is clearly highlighted in the Review’s reference to the establishing clear lines of professional and clinical responsibility.
“Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board and all other Health Boards must now learn from these tragic events and ensure they do not reoccur. We need to very quickly reach a position where tackling HAIs is an integral part of Boards’ responsibilities, to avoid yet another disaster.”