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Health committee in matron call Health committee in matron call
(about 1 hour later)
Members of Stormont's health committee are to call on Health Minister Michael McGimpsey to bring back old-fashioned matrons to improve hospital hygiene. Members of Stormont's health committee are to call on Health Minister Michael McGimpsey to give nursing managers matron-type powers to improve hospital hygiene.
Vice-chairwoman Michelle O'Neill said Mr McGimpsey must cut bureaucracy and give nursing ward managers the same authority that the matrons once had.Vice-chairwoman Michelle O'Neill said Mr McGimpsey must cut bureaucracy and give nursing ward managers the same authority that the matrons once had.
The motion is expected to be unanimously passed by the committee.The motion is expected to be unanimously passed by the committee.
It follows a damning hygiene report which found four acute hospitals failed to comply with even minimal standards. It follows a damning hygiene report into four acute hospitals.
The report by a health watchdog, the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority, also called for senior staff to show greater clinical leadership.The report by a health watchdog, the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority, also called for senior staff to show greater clinical leadership.
While the committee do not expect a matron figure to walk around hospital wards as in the past, they believe granting similar powers to ward managers is the best way to improve efficiency and hygiene.While the committee do not expect a matron figure to walk around hospital wards as in the past, they believe granting similar powers to ward managers is the best way to improve efficiency and hygiene.
Ms O'Neill said: "It appears to us when we speak to the Royal College of Nursing that nurses aren't given the power to do the job they are employed to do.Ms O'Neill said: "It appears to us when we speak to the Royal College of Nursing that nurses aren't given the power to do the job they are employed to do.
"They have to jump through hoops of bureaucracy, for example when bringing in extra nurses as needed."They have to jump through hoops of bureaucracy, for example when bringing in extra nurses as needed.
"What we're saying is cut through all that nonsense and let's support our nurses to do the job they're employed to do.""What we're saying is cut through all that nonsense and let's support our nurses to do the job they're employed to do."
Mr McGimpsey promised "tough action" following the publication of the report last week.Mr McGimpsey promised "tough action" following the publication of the report last week.
He said he would set up a new team to improve cleanliness, comprising of senior health staff from the Public Health Agency and from the minister's own department.He said he would set up a new team to improve cleanliness, comprising of senior health staff from the Public Health Agency and from the minister's own department.