supervised practice placements (News August 6). The NMC is scrapping its requirement for candidates to carry out 20 days of protected learning and three to 12 months on a supervised practice placement. Instead, nurses from overseas will take a two-stage competency test in the form of an online multiple-choice exam, plus a practical objective structured clinical exam. I am practice education facilitator at Stockport NHS Foundation Trust. We have many overseas nurses at the trust who are working as healthcare assistants (HCAs) because they could not get their supervised practice. Will this rule encompass them? They have, in effect, had years of supervised practice. I believe that if the ward managers deem them safe, they should be able to take this two-part competency test for free. There are a large number of such nurses in the UK. If they could be accommodated, it would help the nursing crisis without us having to go overseas to recruit. These nurses should be assessed first, as they know the systems here in the UK. They are only working as HCAs because they could not get adaptation or supervised placements. Jean Rogers, by email
A RENATIONALISED HEALTH SERVICE WOULD DRIVE DOWN SUPPLY COSTS ‘Politicians alienate nurses at their peril’ and ‘£32 for 100 wipes – what a waste of NHS money’ (Editorial and News July 30) highlight poor procurement policies in the NHS. But 70 per cent of procurement contracts are going to private companies that retain the NHS logo. The government thinks this privatisation by the back door is something that we will not notice. Private companies are not about what is best for patients or the NHS. Their role is to grow and make profits for their shareholders. The National Health Action Party (http://nhap.org) has been launched
by healthcare practitioners and members of the public to oppose the government’s dismantling of the NHS. As a Macmillan nurse and member of the National Health Action Party, I believe that the NHS needs to be renationalised. A renationalised NHS would then be able to use its bulk purchasing power to drive down the cost of supplies. Karen Chilver, by email
SEACOLE STATUE APPEAL REACHES ANOTHER IMPORTANT MILESTONE As associate director of the NHS Confederation, I am delighted to have been appointed an ambassador for the Mary Seacole Statue Appeal. Mary Seacole, a nurse of Jamaican and Scottish descent, nursed soldiers in the Crimean War of 1853-56. After her death in 1881, she was forgotten for almost a century. Today she is celebrated as a woman who successfully combated racial prejudice. In a BBC poll in 2004, she was named the greatest black Briton. Having faced barriers to succeed as a woman and particularly as a black woman, her achievements are extraordinary. Additionally, her refusal to let the social stigma of her time affect her work is something that should be remembered and preserved for future generations. The nature of racism, prejudice and indifference has changed for the better in the UK. However, as a black woman working in the public sector and having achieved a measure of career success, the case for recognising and celebrating remarkable achievements by other black women is still necessary and affirming. The Mary Seacole Statue Appeal has reached another important milestone with the dedication and blessing of the site at St Thomas’ Hospital in London where the statue will be erected this time next year. The appeal needs another £96,000 to reach its target. For further details and to donate, visit www.maryseacoleappeal.org.uk Joan Saddler OBE, by email
TWEETS OF THE WEEK @edwin_poots says charging ‘has merit’ as a way of deterring abuse of A&E. Do you agree? #NScomment @NScomment
Not my place as a nurse to judge. Treat when needed @EmmaWaters92
Yes, well, self infliction should be charged as otherwise real cases get left behind! @Rosie9027
Alcohol treatment units are great. People who are purely intoxicated are seen & treated by senior ED nurses! Not in EDs @jessicagrzybow2
The decision to fine shouldn’t be made at triage. It should be made at discharge @sami90x
@sami90x Where do you draw the line then? Tell me (without prejudice) who deserves free treatment and who doesn’t @staggiehedge
What appears self inflicted may not feel like a choice to the individual eg self harm, sub abuse due to depression @zoep24
Let nursing or medical assessment decide about the condition and charging or not will follow @tfotis73
Follow Nursing Standard @NScomment and join the #NScomment chat on Thursdays at 12.30pm
NURSING august 20 other :: voluses 28 no 51 :: permission. 2014 33 DownloadedSTANDARD from RCNi.com by ${individualUser.displayName} on Nov 15, 2015. For personal use only. No without Copyright © 2015 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
A RENATIONALISED HEALTH SERVICE WOULD DRIVE DOWN SUPPLY COSTS ‘Politicians alienate nurses at their peril’ and ‘£32 for 100 wipes – what a waste of NHS money’ (Editorial and News July 30) highlight poor procurement policies in the NHS. But 70 per cent of procurement contracts are going to private companies that retain the NHS logo. The government thinks this privatisation by the back door is something that we will not notice. Private companies are not about what is best for patients or the NHS. Their role is to grow and make profits for their shareholders. The National Health Action Party (http://nhap.org) has been launched
by healthcare practitioners and members of the public to oppose the government’s dismantling of the NHS. As a Macmillan nurse and member of the National Health Action Party, I believe that the NHS needs to be renationalised. A renationalised NHS would then be able to use its bulk purchasing power to drive down the cost of supplies. Karen Chilver, by email
SEACOLE STATUE APPEAL REACHES ANOTHER IMPORTANT MILESTONE As associate director of the NHS Confederation, I am delighted to have been appointed an ambassador for the Mary Seacole Statue Appeal. Mary Seacole, a nurse of Jamaican and Scottish descent, nursed soldiers in the Crimean War of 1853-56. After her death in 1881, she was forgotten for almost a century. Today she is celebrated as a woman who successfully combated racial prejudice. In a BBC poll in 2004, she was named the greatest black Briton. Having faced barriers to succeed as a woman and particularly as a black woman, her achievements are extraordinary. Additionally, her refusal to let the social stigma of her time affect her work is something that should be remembered and preserved for future generations. The nature of racism, prejudice and indifference has changed for the better in the UK. However, as a black woman working in the public sector and having achieved a measure of career success, the case for recognising and celebrating remarkable achievements by other black women is still necessary and affirming. The Mary Seacole Statue Appeal has reached another important milestone with the dedication and blessing of the site at St Thomas’ Hospital in London where the statue will be erected this time next year. The appeal needs another £96,000 to reach its target. For further details and to donate, visit www.maryseacoleappeal.org.uk Joan Saddler OBE, by email
TWEETS OF THE WEEK @edwin_poots says charging ‘has merit’ as a way of deterring abuse of A&E. Do you agree? #NScomment @NScomment
Not my place as a nurse to judge. Treat when needed @EmmaWaters92
Yes, well, self infliction should be charged as otherwise real cases get left behind! @Rosie9027
Alcohol treatment units are great. People who are purely intoxicated are seen & treated by senior ED nurses! Not in EDs @jessicagrzybow2
The decision to fine shouldn’t be made at triage. It should be made at discharge @sami90x
@sami90x Where do you draw the line then? Tell me (without prejudice) who deserves free treatment and who doesn’t @staggiehedge
What appears self inflicted may not feel like a choice to the individual eg self harm, sub abuse due to depression @zoep24
Let nursing or medical assessment decide about the condition and charging or not will follow @tfotis73
Follow Nursing Standard @NScomment and join the #NScomment chat on Thursdays at 12.30pm
NURSING august 20 other :: voluses 28 no 51 :: permission. 2014 33 DownloadedSTANDARD from RCNi.com by ${individualUser.displayName} on Nov 15, 2015. For personal use only. No without Copyright © 2015 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
