The Nursing Standard reports that many UK directors of nursing don’t get an opportunity to support their staff and can lead to inconsistent leadership. Figures analysed by Nursing Standard show that half of all UK directors of nursing have been in post for two years or less.
News Archive
The Welsh health minister has set out a revised list of expectations required for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) to finally exit special measures. The health board has been under the highest level of Welsh Government monitoring for around four-and-a-half years following a damning report into failings on the Tawel Fan mental health ward. Vaughan Gething announced that the region’s maternity services and GP out-of-hours have been stepped down as special measures concerns after recent progress. However, he also called for urgent improvements in several outstanding areas, including the number of patients facing lengthy waits in A&E departments.
The community ‘coat rack’ has launched for the winter in Chichester to help families struggling to make ends meet over the winter. The return of the coat rack will see second hand coats donated and left on a clothes rail in the city centre for people to take for free, if they need. The homeless charity Four Streets Project, founded by Donna Ockenden, are behind the idea and the scheme has been running for the last four years.
Chichester’s community coat rack appeal has returned to the city this year to give a helping hand to the less fortunate in our community. The coat rack is now in its fourth year and was set up by homeless charity the Four Streets Project in partnership with the Chichester Observer and Chichester City Council. Anyone who has a spare coat is encouraged to donate to the coat rack so that rough sleepers are able to take from to keep warm. Donna Ockenden, who founded the Four Streets Project, called the coat rack’s return an ‘amazing piece of community initiative’. “I think last year in particular was successful beyond anything we could have wished for. The people in Chichester were incredibly generous and our volunteers had some great conversations with local families who told them how much the community coat rack meant to them. The message remains very simple: If you have a spare coat, please bring it along and hang it on the rack. If you need a coat, please take one.”
The Health Service Journal has reported that regulators have called for an overhaul of professional misconduct rules. Chief people officer Prerana Issar said there was an “appetite” for a common framework on handling concerns about NHS staff. This follows recommendations set by a national Advisory Group after the suicide of an Imperial College Healthcare Trust nurse. Ms Issar asks all healthcare professional and regulatory bodies to review their guidance on disciplinary procedures. NHS England is working to develop a single framework for all professional regulators when dealing with a conduct complaint.
Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) has revealed that it will now not go ahead with plans to double staff breaks to an hour per shift as of January in a bid to save more than £500,000. The health board said the new rota aimed to standardise the shift patterns of its 17,000 staff and “improve safety and consistency of care”. The plan received major public criticism and included two separate petitions. The health board, which has been in special measures since 2014, decided not to progress the changes following further discussions with Unite, the Royal College of Nurses and Unison.
Tommy’s have launched a new animation which talks about the research that goes into their pregnancy health information. Tommy’s carry out so much research and help to provide answers to both challenging and simple questions which can be stressful and confusing. Take a look at their animation to find out more.
Founder of Chichester’s Four Streets Project, Donna Ockenden, attended Portsmouth High School and told students ‘don’t walk by’ as well as explaining the best ways homeless people can be helped. Students were motivated to collect tins of soup and chocolate at their Harvest Festival in September following an assembly given by Donna. In her talk, she said: “Government figures show there are approximately 320,000 homeless people in Britain and Increasingly more and more armed forces veterans are living on the streets as it seems the safety net of social service and mental health help has all but disappeared. With the help of 30 volunteers, we have never missed a night. We hope to not only feed the homeless but give them back a little bit of dignity and respect.”
The Health Service Journal reports that the lack of national funding is behind the dropout rate from nursing courses. Katerina Kolyva, executive director of the Council of Deans, says that the lack of funding to support the living costs of registered student nurses is the main factor behind the dropout rate from courses. Dr Kolyva said the Council of Deans wanted the reintroduction of a maintenance grant for student nurses.
New research from Tommy’s Preterm Surveillance Clinic has shown that abdominal stitches can save babies’ lives. The study demonstrated that an abdominal stitch can reduce the chance of preterm birth for high-risk women, who have had a previous failed vaginal stitch. This is a vital breakthrough in Tommy’s work to prevent babies being born too early and too small. Clinical Director, Professor Andrew Shennan, says: “We have proven this is a lifesaver in the first randomised trial of the procedure. There are not many treatments in pregnancy that can make that claim.”
The Nursing and Midwifery Council have published the latest blog from Chief Executive, Andrea Sutcliffe. It reflects on a month of events celebrating Black History Month. Andrea writes regular blogs covering many topics and provides insight into subject matters which do not always receive the coverage they deserve.
There has been a lot of media coverage, both national and local regarding fears that changes to nurses working hours in North Wales will have a terrible impact on staff morale. Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) revealed plans which will affect how the breaks are implemented and paid, for about 17,000 members of staff in a bid to save £500,000. While the health board, which has remained in special measures for four years, claims the new rota will standardise the shift patterns, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Wales has slammed the plan’s “inflexibility” and the long terms effects on nursing numbers.