RCN: More specialist nurses needed for babies

Published: 15 October 2008

Commenting on the report ‘Baby steps to better care’ newly published by the special care baby charity Bliss, Dr Peter Carter, Chief Executive & General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, said:

“We fully support this report’s findings and call for a concerted effort by government to tackle the shortfall in neonatal nurses so that all babies receive the highest quality of care.

“A clear, long-term and properly funded UK-wide strategy to recruit and retain more of these specialist nurses must become a high priority. Without such a strategy, babies and their parents will continue to miss-out on the high-quality intensive care and vital information these nurses are able to provide.

“The RCN is keen to work with all relevant parties in ensuring that these most vulnerable of patients get the essential that care they need.”

-ENDS-

Notes for Editors

For further information, interviews or illustrations please contact the RCN Media Office on 0207 647 3633, press.office@rcn.org.uk or visit www.rcn.org.uk/news/mediacentre.php

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.