Graham Scott
Politicians must commit to affordable homes
The cost of housing is an issue for most of us, but nursing staff have been among those hit hardest by soaring property prices. Finding affordable accommodation within striking distance of work is a challenge in many parts of the UK, not only hotspots such as London and south east England that are known to be expensive.
Chance to change how NMC spends your subs
It will happen to every nurse and midwife each year, and they can barely fail to notice: £120 leaves his or her bank account and is deposited in the coffers of the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
Let’s empower practice nurses to improve care
How many times have we read a report or piece of research that suggests nurses could be taking on more of the work currently performed by doctors? It is invariably accompanied by figures suggesting that the NHS would save squillions of pounds every year if only consultants and GPs let nurses take on more responsibilities. Not only that, but access to services would improve and outcomes would be unaffected or might even be enhanced.
Help on the way for parents whose children suffer brain injuries
New resources will offer support to staff and parents caring for young people who have suffered trauma
Retention drive will include moves to boost advanced roles in nursing
Health Education England wants to make nursing careers more attractive
How nurses in a nightclub helped shape the profession's future
Unusual event gathered views of nurses and students born since 1980, and aimed to help different generations to work better together
New nursing associates must be regulated, health education body told
Most respondents to consultation say nursing associates should have to register with the NMC
Make better use of nurses' skills says leading nurse academic
Nurses are working below the scope of their practice, says leading UK nursing academic speaking at international conference
Improve your understanding of patients' personal histories, older people's nurses urged
Patient behaviour can often be explained by the trauma of living through second world war
Queensland to introduce mandatory nurse-to-patient ratios
Minimum of one nurse to four patients on daytime shifts
Improving access to CPD is absolutely vital
Revalidation has arrived. Years in the making, testing and fine tuning, the new system is designed to offer assurance to the public that nurses and midwives are keeping their knowledge, skills and practice up to date. The first 16,000 registrants to be affected directly have until this week to complete the process on the Nursing and Midwifery Council website.
Patients need a strong voice in how NHS is run
Politicians, professionals and the public would surely all agree that patients must have a say in the way they access and receive NHS care, and the opportunity to provide feedback easily on their experience. However, the reality is that patients and other service users often struggle to be heard, not least if they seek redress when the quality of care does not meet their expectations.
Paltry pay award is an immoral affront
It is hard to believe that the global financial crisis started eight years ago, and even harder to fathom why NHS staff are still being forced to pay for the mistakes of others. Yet the annual confirmation that nurses and their colleagues will receive another pitiful pay award was announced last week, and there is no prospect of improvement until 2021 at the earliest.
Get your share of the NHS healthy staff fund
A £600 million initiative has been launched to help NHS staff in England lead healthier lives. Nurses, healthcare assistants and other employees will be offered greater access to workplace physiotherapy services and mental health support, with an emphasis on reducing back injuries and work-related stress.
You can’t argue with statistics – or can you?
The results of two major surveys were released last week and laid bare the extent to which nurses are overstretched and undervalued. Both the annual NHS staff survey and an investigation by the BBC provided further proof that there are not enough staff around to ensure that nurses can deliver safe and effective care.
Nurse-led practice is a model for change
Primary care in the UK has long been dominated by GPs who have clung on to the power – and money – for decades. But a pioneering group of nurses has shown that turning conventional thinking on its head can have a positive impact on patient outcomes and experience of care.
New law on staffing levels will save lives
Good news about nurse staffing levels can be hard to find, so how fantastic that a protracted campaign in Wales finally paid off last week with the passage of legislation to ensure hospital wards are staffed safely. Next month, the Queen will give royal assent to the Safe Nurse Staffing Levels (Wales) Bill, which will save lives, produce better outcomes and enhance the patient experience of care.