There can be no hiding place for poor care: RCN

Published: 02 December 2010

Embargoed until: 05:00, Thursday 2nd December 2010

Dr Peter Carter, Chief Executive & General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) today (2nd December) responded to the Patients Association report Listen to patients, Speak up for change. The report outlines patients’ experiences in hospital. Dr Carter said:

“These examples make very difficult and distressing reading, and we are clear that there must be no hiding place for poor care. Neither the RCN or the overwhelming majority of committed and caring nurses can possibly condone the neglect, rudeness and in some cases outright cruelty outlined in this report. This report should be required reading for clinicians, managers, students and policy makers involved in healthcare.

“This report contains upsetting testimony from the two per cent of patients who feel that their care fell below acceptable levels. Two per cent is, however, two per cent too many. The Care Quality Commission’s latest survey shows that 92 per cent of patients rate their care as good or excellent, and this report shows that much of the care being delivered is excellent. Where problems are arising, they are often wholly preventable. For example, patients should not be developing pressures sores when there are established ways of keeping patients mobilised and monitoring their conditions.

“Where poor care has been identified in the past there is often an underlying failure in ensuring safe staffing levels and the right level of skill. It is of the utmost importance that care does not suffer further due to simply not having enough staff to care for patients. We know that at least 27,000 posts in the NHS are earmarked to be lost – it is difficult to imagine that care will not be more difficult to provide in these circumstances.

“Examples in this report, such as the case of Jean Kellard, make explicit the problems which arise when staffing levels are drastically cut and staff feel unable to provide the level of care they should give. There is a multitude of evidence which shows that staffing levels have a direct impact on patient care, and we would urge managers to prioritise safe staffing levels.”

Dr Carter continued:

“Patients and families need to raise their concerns about poor care as near as possible to the time of the incidents to allow for proper investigation and improvements to be made. Sadly, it is very difficult to rectify bad examples of care weeks or months after the event. Every individual working in the NHS, whether it is in the boardroom or the ward, should be focussing on providing the best possible care for patients. The Patients Association are right to keep standing up for patients.”

Ends

Notes for Editors

The RCN recently released a report which outlined the 27,000 posts at risk in the NHS, and also showed examples of excellent and innovative care. You can read the report here - http://frontlinefirst.rcn.org.uk/page/s/report

For further information, interviews or illustrations please contact –
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.