Nurses praised for delivering quality care in A & E

Published: 14 January 2009

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) today welcomed the outcome of the Healthcare Commission’s A & E patient survey, showing that 88% of patients praised the quality of the care they received.

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

“It’s encouraging to see that the efforts made by healthcare staff in delivering high quality care to all patients is paying off, and that patients can see the difference made by dedicated staff in A & E departments. In particular, this survey shows that patients valued the time taken to listen and explain conditions, and that this significantly improves their experiences when they are sick or injured. This is a credit to those staff who have to deal with a very stressful working environment, where many report instances of alcohol related violence in the evenings and at weekends.

“However, it is worrying that despite these efforts, some patients still feel that improvements could be made in the dignity of their treatment, particularly in terms of securing their privacy. This is always going to be an issue when staff are having to focus on the four hour target, especially when they are under additional pressures during the winter. We would urge the Department of Health to work with staff to ensure that the quality of care is not only timely but of a high standard.”

Ends

Notes for Editors

The RCN is calling for the target to see all A & E patients within four hours to be relaxed, to include 95% of patients rather than the current 98%. This would enable staff to focus on the quality of care for individuals and delivering a better patient experience.

For further information, interviews or illustrations please contact the RCN Media Office on 0207 647 3633, press.office@rcn.org.uk or visit http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/media

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.