RCN welcomes Johnson’s direct action at Mid Staffs

Published: 01 May 2009

The Royal College of Nursing says the Health Secretary Alan Johnson is right to take direct action to improve patient care at the Mid Staffordshire hospital at the centre of last month's damning Healthcare Commission report. The RCN is also urging every trust to question whether they have enough nurses to treat patients and if they have set aside enough money to train them.

The comments were made following the announcement that extra nurses and an experienced Assistant Director of Nursing were being deployed to Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust to improve patient care and boost frontline staff.

RCN Chief Executive & General Secretary, Dr Peter Carter said:

"The verdict from the Government is clear - when you do not have enough nurses, patient care suffers. That's why it is right that the Health Secretary is taking direct action to improve care at Mid Staffs. The staffing and training cuts that led to catastrophic failures at this hospital should put every trust on high alert.

Mid Staffs should also show trust boards that chasing foundation status is pointless if it results in making patient care worse".

The RCN is pledging to continue supporting staff at the trust, highlighting that they have made progress, pointing out there is more work to be done. Dr Carter added:

"We will keep supporting our members on the ground and working with the trust to make sure that these recommendations are implemented."