RCN: Health care staff need support

Published: 08 March 2013

Frontline health care staff want to work in excellent hospitals, but they need the proper support to do so, the Royal College of Nursing has said.

The comments were made as Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt is set to make a speech on the importance of aiming for excellence in the NHS in England. He will argue that much of the NHS is focused on simply meeting minimum standards rather than being the best and will make a comparison to the must-win attitude of the British Olympic team.

Dr Peter Carter, RCN Chief Executive & General Secretary, said that RCN members agree that all hospitals should be aiming for excellence, but this requires investment and leadership.

“Team GB’s fantastic success is down to a combination of ambition supported by proper investment and resources, and this needs to be emulated in the NHS,” added Dr Carter.