No decision about me without me – RCN response

Published: 13 December 2012

For immediate release: 13 December 2012

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) today commented on the Department of Health’s response to Liberating the NHS: No decision about me, without me.

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

“The RCN welcomes the fact that the government is pushing ahead with proposals to involve patients more closely in their own care, and that it has consulted with professionals as well as patient groups. Nurses are key to supporting care which is personal and planned with the patient. However, the RCN remains concerned that without adequate clinical support, advice and resources, a patient’s ability to chose the kind of care that meets their needs risks being undermined.

“We are also concerned about the ability of the NHS to deliver patient choice to this level when we have identified more than 61,000 posts at risk in the NHS. For patient choice to be a meaningful reality, the NHS needs the resources to meet the rising demand, whether it is clinical expertise and advice or better organised care. However, we would like to reinforce that overall this is a very welcome initiative.”

Ends

Notes for Editors

Promoting patient involvement is one of the eight key RCN Principles of Nursing Practice. You can read more about the principles here - http://www.rcn.org.uk/development/practice/principles/the_principles

For further information, please contact the RCN Media Office on 020 7647 3633, press.office@rcn.org.uk or visit http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/media
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 nurses 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