South West nurses challenge Health Secretary in Congress
Published: 16 May 2012
South West nurses attending the Royal College of Nursing Congress in Harrogate on Monday 14 May, challenged Health Secretary, Andrew Lansley, over planned changes to nursing levels and what they feel is a direct attack on frontline nursing staff and levels of patient care.
The minster took part in a fifty minute session, which covered a number of different priority areas currently topping the RCN’s agenda. It also included a question and answer session, where over twenty questions were taken from members in the auditorium, including four notable questions from South West representatives, which included:
- Alun Mountjoy, a South West steward asked: “Mr Lansley you’ve cut nurses posts; you’re making us work to 68 and have frozen our pay. What have we done to deserve this?”
- BJ Waltho also a steward stated: “You said the NHS would not deteriorate on your watch, yet data reported by the RCN shows it is in a critical condition. Would you concede that the NHS has not been as well cared for on your watch as promised?”
- Kathy Moore asked the minister: “As you know, many professionals are against your Health and Social Care Act. How can you ensure that their resistance doesn’t become a risk to efficiency and patient care?”
- Lisa Crooks from Gloucestershire branch asked Lansley: “Why should we believe a word you say given that you have lied to us and deceived the public since the election? How can the NHS make £21 Billion pounds savings without putting patient’s health at risk?”
Helen Hancox, Regional Officer for Bath, Bristol and Gloucestershire, said: "the focus for nurses at congress has been on the findings presented in our latest Front line first survey. This report shows that the loss of thousands of posts across the NHS is making nurses feel that they are unable to give the quality of care they want to give and they know that patients deserve. This makes our members angry and frustrated and this was clearly seen in the session with Mr Lansley on Monday."