The NMC have published their Annual Report and Accounts and Fitness to Practise Annual Report for 2017-2018. During 2017-2018 significant progress in a number of areas has been made but it is clearly understood that there is much more that needs to be done, particularly in terms of the way the NMC treats those they come into contact with.
News Archive
Problems with staffing and beds at a North Wales hospital have been made public in a health board report. Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board’s (BCUHB) most recent Bundle Finance and Performance committee meeting, showed that Ysbyty Glan Clwyd is below national and professional standards in terms of critical care and anaesthetic staffing.
Eight Assembly members in Denbighshire have called for an inquiry into the now-closed Tawel Fan dementia ward. The group from North Wales are concerned that two investigations into allegations of patient mistreatment on the ward drew different conclusions. Relatives have also called for a new inquiry in a meeting with Health Secretary Vaughan Gething in Llandudno Junction.
The Guardian has reported that rural hospitals need more support to deal with the growing number of young people arriving at major trauma units and A&Es as victims of violence linked to the drug trade. David Hornsby, matron of emergency medicine at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS foundation trust, said it was difficult for doctors to establish a definite link between a trauma case and county lines drug dealing.
A report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development has found that an estimated 90,000 Britons will die by 2050 from infections that are treatable unless effective action is taken to deal with the problem of antimicrobial resistance.
The NMC has reported that there has been a modest increase in midwife numbers in the last five years. The increase has been driven by a rise in UK trained nurses and midwives and those trained outside the EU. The number of people trained in the UK and registered to work has increased by 3,457 over the last twelve months. While numbers from outside the EU have increased by 2,808.
A report by NHS Providers entitled ‘Steeling ourselves for winter 2018-19’ has said there are clear warning signs that the coming winter could be even tougher than the last for NHS Trusts, staff and patients. The Deputy Chief Executive of NHS Providers, Saffron Cordery, warned: “Staff shortages are growing, putting additional strain on a workforce already overstretched during an exceptionally busy summer.”
A report in The Lancet has found that there has been a remarkable global decline in the number of children that women are having. Fertility rate falls meant nearly half of countries now have insufficient children to maintain their population size. The researchers said the findings were a huge surprise and means there would be profound consequences for societies.
The Health Secretary; Matt Hancock; set out his long-term vision for the NHS ‘Prevention is better than cure’ plan which aims to boost healthy life expectation. The plan promised a funding boost for community and primary care services, as part of a new national strategy on illness prevention. Plus, it recommends that people in England should be told to cut back on alcohol, sugar, salt and fat.
Responding to the Health Secretary, Sue Killen, Interim Chief Executive and Registrar of the NMC, said: “Preventing ill health is essential to protecting and improving public health across the UK. Nurses and midwives play a vital role in the delivery of preventative care, supporting and enabling people to make informed decisions about their health and advising on ways to better manage their health to maximise their quality of life.
We’re absolutely committed to supporting the delivery of high quality, preventative care. Our brand new education standards, give nurses a much greater understanding across all areas of public health as well as enhanced skills and knowledge in key areas such as technology and genomics. It’s these skills that will enable the nurses of the future to continue to deliver world class care in communities across the country in the years to come.”
The fifth annual MBRRACE-UK report of “Saving Lives, Improving Mothers’ Care” has been published. The report examines the care of women who died during or up to one year after pregnancy between 2014 and 2016 in the UK and Ireland. It reports on both mental and physical health related deaths and the inequalities between women.
The National Institute for Health Research has launched a brand new senior nurse and midwife research leadership programme which will strengthen the research voice and drive improvements in future care. The 70@70 NIHR Senior Nurse and Midwife Research Leader Programme is aimed at senior nurses and midwife clinical leaders with experience of building a research-led care environment for patients.
Mental health services in England will receive an injection of £2 billion as part of the recent budget announcements. Some of the funding will go towards treating people with conditions such as PTSD, depression and anxiety, and particularly for young people. Support will also be available around the clock in every A&E department in England, and schools will receive individual crisis teams.