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Royal College of Nursing brands reforms as 'stupid' Royal College of Nursing brands reforms as 'stupid'
(35 minutes later)
Nurses' leaders have branded parts of the government's plans to reform the profession as "stupid".Nurses' leaders have branded parts of the government's plans to reform the profession as "stupid".
The Royal College of Nursing said ministers had missed an opportunity to improve patient care after the Stafford Hospital scandal public inquiry. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) said ministers had missed an opportunity to improve patient care after the Stafford Hospital scandal public inquiry.
The strongest criticism was given to the plan to get trainee nurses to work for a year as healthcare assistants.The strongest criticism was given to the plan to get trainee nurses to work for a year as healthcare assistants.
A survey by the union of more than 2,000 senior nurses also raised concerns about unsafe staffing levels. Government sources accused the RCN of failing to face up to any criticism of the role of nurses.
Meanwhile, a survey by The Daily Telegraph reveals a rise in hospital managers and consultants paid six-figure sums. Over 7,800 NHS staff were paid more than £100,000 last year. The highest paid executive earned £340,00 - almost 16 times the pay of ward nurses. Aides to Jeremy Hunt said the Francis report into Mid Stafford contained "quite brutal" criticism of the nursing profession.
'Very disappointing' Ministers plan to press ahead with piloting the introduction of the "care assistant" scheme despite opposition.
At the Royal College of Nursing's (RCN) annual conference, which is being held in Liverpool this week, delegates heard how nurses were over-stretched because of dangerously low staffing levels. Meanwhile, a survey by The Daily Telegraph reveals a rise in hospital managers and consultants paid six-figure sums. Over 7,800 NHS staff were paid more than £100,000 last year. The highest paid executive earned £340,000 - almost 16 times the pay of ward nurses.
Unsafe staffing
At the RCN's annual conference, which is being held in Liverpool this week, delegates also heard how nurses were over-stretched because of dangerously low staffing levels. A survey by the union of more than 2,000 senior nurses also raised concerns about unsafe staffing levels.
A total of 71% of senior nurses said they were not confident that staffing levels were always adequate, with more than a third saying they were unsafe on a weekly basis.A total of 71% of senior nurses said they were not confident that staffing levels were always adequate, with more than a third saying they were unsafe on a weekly basis.
The RCN said the findings illustrated the need for minimum staffing levels to be set - echoing a call made by Unison last week.The RCN said the findings illustrated the need for minimum staffing levels to be set - echoing a call made by Unison last week.
This was put forward as an option by the Francis inquiry when it published its final report in February into the failings at Stafford Hospital - one of the biggest scandals in the history of the NHS. The idea of setting minimum staffing quotas was put forward as an option by the Francis inquiry when it published its final report in February into the failings at Stafford Hospital - one of the biggest scandals in the history of the NHS.
It highlighted appalling neglect, abuse and incompetence in the four years up to 2009. There were between 400 and 1,200 more deaths at the hospital in that period than would have been expected.It highlighted appalling neglect, abuse and incompetence in the four years up to 2009. There were between 400 and 1,200 more deaths at the hospital in that period than would have been expected.
The report accused the NHS of putting corporate self-interest ahead of patients, concluding the failings went from the top to the bottom of the system, and made 290 recommendations for the future.The report accused the NHS of putting corporate self-interest ahead of patients, concluding the failings went from the top to the bottom of the system, and made 290 recommendations for the future.
But when the government published its response in March there was no commitment to set staffing-to-patient ratios.But when the government published its response in March there was no commitment to set staffing-to-patient ratios.
'Disappointing'
RCN general secretary Peter Carter said that along with the refusal to introduce other recommendations, including a registration system for healthcare assistants, it was "very disappointing".RCN general secretary Peter Carter said that along with the refusal to introduce other recommendations, including a registration system for healthcare assistants, it was "very disappointing".
"We know that some of the most important recommendations from the Francis inquiry are being ignored, potentially leaving in place the systemic failures which allowed such a tragedy to happen in the first place.""We know that some of the most important recommendations from the Francis inquiry are being ignored, potentially leaving in place the systemic failures which allowed such a tragedy to happen in the first place."
One proposal is to get nurses to work for 12 months as a healthcare assistant before their training.One proposal is to get nurses to work for 12 months as a healthcare assistant before their training.
It was put forward by ministers despite it not featuring on the list of 290 recommendations made by the inquiry. RCN president Andrea Spyropoulos said she was astounded when she heard it.It was put forward by ministers despite it not featuring on the list of 290 recommendations made by the inquiry. RCN president Andrea Spyropoulos said she was astounded when she heard it.
She also said it would "waste taxpayers money".She also said it would "waste taxpayers money".
"I don't believe it will happen. I believe it is a really stupid idea that will not benefit patients.""I don't believe it will happen. I believe it is a really stupid idea that will not benefit patients."
Mr Carter said: "Student nurses in their training spend over 50% of their time in clinical areas.Mr Carter said: "Student nurses in their training spend over 50% of their time in clinical areas.
"There seems to be a view out there that somehow they spend all of their time in universities. That simply isn't the case. ""There seems to be a view out there that somehow they spend all of their time in universities. That simply isn't the case. "
Referring to concerns raised about staffing levels in the RCN's survey, he said: "They [nursing staff] made it clear that they felt, sometimes on a daily basis, sometimes on a weekly basis, the number of staff that were available on wards and other departments were simply inadequate in order to provide the safe and satisfactory level of care patients need.Referring to concerns raised about staffing levels in the RCN's survey, he said: "They [nursing staff] made it clear that they felt, sometimes on a daily basis, sometimes on a weekly basis, the number of staff that were available on wards and other departments were simply inadequate in order to provide the safe and satisfactory level of care patients need.
"And it's a really worrying return and we think the government would be well advised to take this seriously.""And it's a really worrying return and we think the government would be well advised to take this seriously."
He said reports of unsatisfactory care tended to be predominantly "but not exclusively" in relation to elderly care.He said reports of unsatisfactory care tended to be predominantly "but not exclusively" in relation to elderly care.
"And you will find that often there is one nurse or one healthcare assistant to maybe nine or 10 older people, often requiring full nursing care.""And you will find that often there is one nurse or one healthcare assistant to maybe nine or 10 older people, often requiring full nursing care."
He called for legislation to ensure minimum staffing levels.He called for legislation to ensure minimum staffing levels.
Trust responsesTrust responses
Meanwhile, shadow health minister Jamie Reed accused the government of betraying the NHS.Meanwhile, shadow health minister Jamie Reed accused the government of betraying the NHS.
"Hospitals are struggling to cope and patients are paying the price," he added."Hospitals are struggling to cope and patients are paying the price," he added.
A Department of Health spokeswoman said: "As individual trusts respond to the Francis inquiry we expect them to look at the issue of nursing numbers in their hospitals.A Department of Health spokeswoman said: "As individual trusts respond to the Francis inquiry we expect them to look at the issue of nursing numbers in their hospitals.
"However, if the RCN wants to have credibility in this debate then they must first set out how they are going to respond to the criticism levelled at them in the Francis report.""However, if the RCN wants to have credibility in this debate then they must first set out how they are going to respond to the criticism levelled at them in the Francis report."
The RCN was criticised for not doing enough locally to support staff while its dual role of union and professional body was also questioned.The RCN was criticised for not doing enough locally to support staff while its dual role of union and professional body was also questioned.