RCN Wales responds to NHS Wales Chief Executive Annual Report

Published: 31 July 2012

RCN in Wales welcomes NHS Wales Chief Executive David Sissling’s Annual Report

NHS Wales Chief Executive David Sissling has released his annual report which outlines a number of improvements in the health service in Wales however further improvements need to be made in key areas.

The RCN in Wales welcomes the report and is pleased to see that improvements are being made in a time when Local Health Board’s have to make significant savings. Nurses have had a huge part to play in the successes.

Tina Donnelly, Director, RCN Wales said: "We are happy to see that improvements have been made. Improved orthopaedic treatment, reductions in infections from hospital stays, reduction in hospital admissions for chronic conditions and better treatment for stroke patients, are all welcomed. This is the first annual report from the Chief Executive of NHS Wales and it sets a benchmark for future reports and we hope that it can build on the success annually. Nurse led initiatives have helped in all areas of improvements with nurses often holding the solutions to many concerns and issues within the NHS in Wales. Nurses play a vital role in new innovations and will continue to do so.

She added: "The Royal College of Nursing in Wales has previously called for patients being treated in corridors and waiting an unacceptable amount of time for treatment to be looked at as a matter of urgency. A survey released by the RCN in May 2012 demonstrated that clinical staff are experiencing unprecedented demands and they feel that patient care is being compromised especially with patients being placed in corridors lying on stretchers until an appropriate clinical environment where they can be transferred becomes available. David Sissling’s annual report reemphasises what we said and this issue needs to be tackled immediately. Next year we hope to see improvements on what has not been achieved this year."

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Notes for Editors

For further information, please contact the RCN Wales Media Office on 029 20 680717, 029 20 680732 or email tracy.lenzy@rcn.org.uk

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is the voice of nursing across the UK and is the largest professional union of nursing staff in the world. The RCN promotes the interest of nursing staff and patients on a wide range of issues and helps shape healthcare policy by working closely with the UK Government and other national and international institutions, trade unions, professional bodies and voluntary organisations.