RCN responds to Prime Minister’s announcement on NHS care

Published: 04 January 2013

Embargoed: 00:01 Friday 4h January 2012

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) today welcomed the Prime Minister’s announcement regarding extra support and training for nursing. RCN Chief Executive & General Secretary, Dr Peter Carter, said:

“Providing the best quality care for patients has always been at the heart of nursing. Day after day our members tell us that they want to focus their energy on the needs of their patients, spending more time at the bedside caring for them and their families. The Prime Minister is right to acknowledge what an ‘incredible job nurses do - and how much we ask of them’, and we welcome today’s announcements to provide extra support and training for the nursing profession.

“We are particularly pleased to see a commitment to improved training and development for health care assistants. The root and branch review to be undertaken by the CQC should help to address the situation where new care staff have been expected to care for patients without proper training and supervision.

“It is absolutely right that patients are asked for their views and recommendations about the settings in which they are cared for and we particularly welcome the Prime Minister’s commitment to also include staff views in this process. Patients and staff know what good quality, dignified care looks like and this ‘family and friends’ test will be one important piece of the jigsaw that provides an overall picture of quality care.

“It ‘s also encouraging to see a focus on better district nursing, as strong community care is crucial in enabling more people to be cared for at home and at the same timer easing the strain on hospitals.”

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