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| Apprentice nurses could treat hospital patients in bid to tackle shortages | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Hospital patients could be treated by apprentice nurses under plans to be announced by Jeremy Hunt, sparking a new row about how the government is tackling shortages of health professionals. | Hospital patients could be treated by apprentice nurses under plans to be announced by Jeremy Hunt, sparking a new row about how the government is tackling shortages of health professionals. |
| The health secretary will say on Wednesday that student nurses can train on the job rather than having to complete a university degree. | The health secretary will say on Wednesday that student nurses can train on the job rather than having to complete a university degree. |
| The move could allow as many as 1,000 apprentice nurses to join the NHS annually and work alongside fully qualified nurses and “nursing associates”. | The move could allow as many as 1,000 apprentice nurses to join the NHS annually and work alongside fully qualified nurses and “nursing associates”. |
| Those who could become nursing apprentices include healthcare assistants or those already working towards nursing qualifications. | Those who could become nursing apprentices include healthcare assistants or those already working towards nursing qualifications. |
| While nursing associates can remain at that level, apprentices will be expected to work towards becoming a registered nurse. | While nursing associates can remain at that level, apprentices will be expected to work towards becoming a registered nurse. |
| Hunt is expected to tell the NHS Providers conference in Birmingham that the existing routes to a nursing degree exclude many “caring, compassionate staff”. | Hunt is expected to tell the NHS Providers conference in Birmingham that the existing routes to a nursing degree exclude many “caring, compassionate staff”. |
| “I want those who already work with patients to be able to move into the jobs they really want, and I know for many this means becoming a nurse,” he will say. | “I want those who already work with patients to be able to move into the jobs they really want, and I know for many this means becoming a nurse,” he will say. |
| “Not everyone wants to take time off to study full time at university, so by creating hundreds of new apprentice nurses, we can help healthcare assistants and others reach their potential as a fully trained nurse.” | “Not everyone wants to take time off to study full time at university, so by creating hundreds of new apprentice nurses, we can help healthcare assistants and others reach their potential as a fully trained nurse.” |
| Prof Jane Cummings, chief nursing officer for England, said many staff in the health and care system wanted to progress in their careers, but “the traditional full-time university route doesn’t work for everyone”. | Prof Jane Cummings, chief nursing officer for England, said many staff in the health and care system wanted to progress in their careers, but “the traditional full-time university route doesn’t work for everyone”. |
| Apprentices would be paid a salary and this would be set locally, said a spokesperson for the Department of Health. | Apprentices would be paid a salary and this would be set locally, said a spokesperson for the Department of Health. |
| Gail Adams, head of nursing for Unison, said: “Nursing degree apprentices need to be properly paid and supported or they’ll be unable to balance studying for a degree with the pressures of work.” | Gail Adams, head of nursing for Unison, said: “Nursing degree apprentices need to be properly paid and supported or they’ll be unable to balance studying for a degree with the pressures of work.” |
| Research published earlier this month found that patients were 20% more likely to die in hospitals where nurses had been replaced with less-qualified staff. | Research published earlier this month found that patients were 20% more likely to die in hospitals where nurses had been replaced with less-qualified staff. |
| Patients also suffered poorer quality of care when the proportion of qualified nurses was diluted with lower-skilled nursing assistants, according to the study. | Patients also suffered poorer quality of care when the proportion of qualified nurses was diluted with lower-skilled nursing assistants, according to the study. |
| Hospitals in England already have one of the lowest ratios of qualified nurses to other staff. | Hospitals in England already have one of the lowest ratios of qualified nurses to other staff. |
| Prof Peter Griffiths, of Southampton university, one of the authors of the study, said: “We have seen in our research that lower levels of qualification in the nursing workforce is associated with higher mortality. That relates to both qualified versus unqualified nurses, but also the academic level of qualified nurses. | Prof Peter Griffiths, of Southampton university, one of the authors of the study, said: “We have seen in our research that lower levels of qualification in the nursing workforce is associated with higher mortality. That relates to both qualified versus unqualified nurses, but also the academic level of qualified nurses. |
| “It will be important to ensure that these courses are just as rigorous as standard routes and that the programmes are properly evaluated.” | “It will be important to ensure that these courses are just as rigorous as standard routes and that the programmes are properly evaluated.” |
| However, Griffiths said the new apprentice role could encourage those deterred by the cost of becoming a nurse following the abolition of bursaries. | However, Griffiths said the new apprentice role could encourage those deterred by the cost of becoming a nurse following the abolition of bursaries. |
| In July the government confirmed plans to replace bursaries with loans for student nurses and midwives from 2017. Ministers claimed the move would help more students enter the profession, but the Royal College of Nursing said the changes were unfair and risky. | In July the government confirmed plans to replace bursaries with loans for student nurses and midwives from 2017. Ministers claimed the move would help more students enter the profession, but the Royal College of Nursing said the changes were unfair and risky. |
| Hunt is also expected to address one of the criticisms of the new nursing associate role – the ability to administer controlled drugs to patients. | Hunt is also expected to address one of the criticisms of the new nursing associate role – the ability to administer controlled drugs to patients. |
| The health secretary will tell the conference that statutory professional regulation will be required for the new nursing associate role, under the Nursing and Midwifery Council. | The health secretary will tell the conference that statutory professional regulation will be required for the new nursing associate role, under the Nursing and Midwifery Council. |
| Allowing nursing associates to administer medicines “means that a stronger regime of assurance is necessary to ensure safe and effective clinical practice”, Hunt will say. | Allowing nursing associates to administer medicines “means that a stronger regime of assurance is necessary to ensure safe and effective clinical practice”, Hunt will say. |
| “Nursing associates are not there to replace registered nurses but to support and complement them. Statutory professional regulation is a necessary and proportionate requirement for this important new role.” | “Nursing associates are not there to replace registered nurses but to support and complement them. Statutory professional regulation is a necessary and proportionate requirement for this important new role.” |
| Unison’s Adams said: “Nursing associates shouldn’t be a substitute for registered nurses. Jeremy Hunt risks diluting the vital work of nurses in providing compassionate and dignified care to patients.” | Unison’s Adams said: “Nursing associates shouldn’t be a substitute for registered nurses. Jeremy Hunt risks diluting the vital work of nurses in providing compassionate and dignified care to patients.” |
| Janet Davies, chief executive of the Royal College of Nursing, has described allowing nursing associates to administer drugs as “ridiculous”. | Janet Davies, chief executive of the Royal College of Nursing, has described allowing nursing associates to administer drugs as “ridiculous”. |