RCN responds to new guidance for top-up care
Published: 23 March 2009
The Royal College of Nursing has reiterated its call for a formal evaluation of top-up care following the publication of the Department of Health's Guidance on NHS patients who wish to pay for additional private care.
Dr Peter Carter, Chief Executive & General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), said:
"While this guidance recognises the importance of separating NHS and private care, in practice this will be a deeply complex issue. Nurses will be on the front line, experiencing the practical challenges in following through on this policy.
"In principle, separating private and NHS treatment might appear straightforward, however, in practice segregating the nursing and ancillary care a patient receives is a far greater challenge.
"While we believe the Government made the right decision in lifting the ban on top-up payments, we once again call for a formal evaluation to be carried out to ensure the system does not jeopardise NHS care."
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Notes to Editors
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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, healthcare assistants 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.