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Coronavirus: Lewes MP Maria Caulfield returns to nursing Coronavirus: Lewes MP Maria Caulfield returns to nursing
(about 1 hour later)
An MP is to return to nursing to help the NHS tackle the coronavirus outbreak. An MP is to return to the "front line" of nursing to help the NHS tackle the coronavirus outbreak.
Maria Caulfield made the pledge after the government called on retired health professionals to offer support.Maria Caulfield made the pledge after the government called on retired health professionals to offer support.
The Conservative MP previously worked at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, the Princess Royal Hospital, and the Royal Marsden. Ms Caulfield, who represents Lewes in Sussex, has called on others with healthcare experience to offer help.
Ms Caulfield, who represents Lewes in Sussex has called on others with healthcare experience to offer help. It came as one former nurse, who left the NHS in 2016, was told she could not return in her role as a sister because she had been away for over three years.
The MP has continued to do occasional shift work as a nurse after she was elected in 2015. Conservative MP Ms Caulfied has continued to do occasional shift work as a nurse since she was elected in 2015.
Her announcement came after the government said letters are being sent to more than 65,000 retired medics in England and Wales asking them to return to the NHS. She previously worked at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, the Princess Royal Hospital, and the Royal Marsden.
Ms Caulfield said: "I'm still fully trained, still got my uniform, so there's absolutely no reason why I couldn't go back to help at this time. Ms Caulfied's announcement came after the government said letters were being sent to more than 65,000 retired medics in England and Wales asking them to return to the NHS.
The MP said: "I'm still fully trained, still got my uniform, so there's absolutely no reason why I couldn't go back to help at this time.
"I know it can be daunting for others who have been out of healthcare for a year, 18 months, two years. So the health secretary has said whatever support they need will be given to them.""I know it can be daunting for others who have been out of healthcare for a year, 18 months, two years. So the health secretary has said whatever support they need will be given to them."
Ms Caulfield said there were "a variety of settings" where former health care workers could offer their support. Ms Caulfield said there were "a variety of settings" in which former healthcare workers could offer their support.
She also said that not every nurse and doctor who left the NHS was over 70 and in the vulnerable age group. She also pointed out that not every nurse and doctor who has left the NHS was over 70 and in the vulnerable age group.
"There's lots of doctors and nurses who left or took early retirement... for a variety of reasons, childcare issues, or they'd had enough," she said."There's lots of doctors and nurses who left or took early retirement... for a variety of reasons, childcare issues, or they'd had enough," she said.
"It's hard work in the NHS."It's hard work in the NHS.
"If you think you've got anything at all you could offer and you just need a little bit of health and support to get back into it, please get in contact." "If you think you've got anything at all you could offer, and you just need a little bit of health and support to get back into it, please get in contact."
Former nurse Carol Maskrey, 60, from Chippenham, Wiltshire, said she was "frustrated" at being told by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) that only nurses who had left in the previous three years could return to the NHS in their former roles.
The NMC states on its website: "Our first focus will be to invite those nurses who have left the register within the last three years to opt in should they wish to do so."
Ms Maskrey, who left her role as a sister at the Royal United Hospital in Bath in January 2016, said: "It's really frustrating, they are getting all these ventilators in, but will they have have enough people to look after them?
"The mechanics may change but the principles do not.
"I appreciate there should be boundaries but I am here and I can start work tomorrow."
She has been offered a role as an unqualified nurse, but said: "I spent 35 years in nursing in intensive care so to return as an unqualified nurse would be a waste of my skills."
The NMC said the three-year rule was in in place "at the moment" and "we may review this".
There is more information here on returning nursing professionals.
Do you work in healthcare? Or have you recently retired? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Do you work in healthcare? Or have you recently retired? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
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