NEWS
CLWYD CLAIMS OF HUSBAND’S POOR CARE NOT UPHELD
Claims by Labour MP Ann Clwyd that her husband died ‘like a battery hen’ in hospital have been found untrue, by an independent review into the hospital care he received. Ms Clwyd made serious complaints against Cardiff and Vale University Health Board after the death of Owen Roberts in October 2012. But the summary report of an independent review into the care Mr Roberts received, released following a request under the Freedom of Information Act, did not uphold 21 of the 31 allegations she made. It did not accept that he was ‘crushed against the bars of an NHS bed’, but among the upheld allegations it concluded Mr Roberts died of hospital-induced pneumonia. The MP said it was ‘totally inappropriate’ that the report was released without her permission and she has challenged many of the findings. A board spokesperson said it believed it would be in breach of its statutory duty if it did not release the report.
MS NURSES JOIN PROJECT TO PROVE THE VALUE OF SPECIALIST ROLE
Eleven teams of multiple sclerosis specialist nurses are taking part in a nationwide study to gather evidence on how their work improves patient care. The study is part of an ongoing project by the charity Multiple Sclerosis Trust to try to establish formally that these specialist services are cost-effective. Until now, little research has been undertaken to assess the value of MS specialist nurses.
Two nurses – Gale Stephens (pictured, left) and Julie Taylor (right) – are about to start data collection and analysis, with support from the MS Trust. Ms Stephens, from Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said: ‘We have a challenging two years ahead of us, but we are aware that on completion we will be able to demonstrate the value and input of the MS nursing service and the benefits we can bring.’
Contact your MPs in fight for fair pay, says Peter Carter Nurses are being urged to contact their MPs to keep up the fight for fair pay after the government denied them a pay rise. Speaking after the RCN council meeting in London last week, general secretary Peter Carter said it is important that nurses know where their MPs stand on the issue. It follows health secretary Jeremy Hunt’s rejection of the NHS Pay Review Body’s recommendation to give all nurses a 1 per cent rise in 2014/15. Almost 330,000 nurses will miss out on the pay rise, which will be given only to nurses at the top of their pay bands. Dr Carter said: ‘There is a general election next year. There are 800 to 1,000 nurses in every constituency and
NURSING STANDARD
a number of MPs have small majorities – some of just 50 to 80 votes. The nurses’ vote will be very important. We want the MPs to state their position.’ RCN council member for Yorkshire and the Humber Anne Kennedy has already visited her local MP, shadow chancellor Ed Balls, at one of his surgeries to voice her anger about the pay issue. She said: ‘Nurses are demoralised by it. They wonder how much more they are going to be put through.’ She added that the MP for Morley and Outwood in West Yorkshire had ‘really listened’ to her, but she had been told by Mr Balls that Labour would not reverse the pay deal if it had been implemented if and when his party
came into power. Mr Balls wrote about meeting Ms Kennedy in a column in his local paper. He wrote: ‘Over the last few years, nurses, along with most other working people, have seen their standards of living falling as prices rise but their pay doesn’t keep up – they’re on average £1,600 a year worse off.’ Mr Hunt said the rise is ‘unaffordable’ and would risk patient care. The unions Unite and Unison are consulting their health service members over possible strike action. Nursing Standard has set up a petition urging the Department of Health in England to reconsider its decision not to give every nurse a 1 per cent rise. To sign the petition go to: tinyurl.com/Pay-Petition april 30 :: vol 28 no 35 :: 2014 9
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CLWYD CLAIMS OF HUSBAND’S POOR CARE NOT UPHELD
Claims by Labour MP Ann Clwyd that her husband died ‘like a battery hen’ in hospital have been found untrue, by an independent review into the hospital care he received. Ms Clwyd made serious complaints against Cardiff and Vale University Health Board after the death of Owen Roberts in October 2012. But the summary report of an independent review into the care Mr Roberts received, released following a request under the Freedom of Information Act, did not uphold 21 of the 31 allegations she made. It did not accept that he was ‘crushed against the bars of an NHS bed’, but among the upheld allegations it concluded Mr Roberts died of hospital-induced pneumonia. The MP said it was ‘totally inappropriate’ that the report was released without her permission and she has challenged many of the findings. A board spokesperson said it believed it would be in breach of its statutory duty if it did not release the report.
MS NURSES JOIN PROJECT TO PROVE THE VALUE OF SPECIALIST ROLE
Eleven teams of multiple sclerosis specialist nurses are taking part in a nationwide study to gather evidence on how their work improves patient care. The study is part of an ongoing project by the charity Multiple Sclerosis Trust to try to establish formally that these specialist services are cost-effective. Until now, little research has been undertaken to assess the value of MS specialist nurses.
Two nurses – Gale Stephens (pictured, left) and Julie Taylor (right) – are about to start data collection and analysis, with support from the MS Trust. Ms Stephens, from Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said: ‘We have a challenging two years ahead of us, but we are aware that on completion we will be able to demonstrate the value and input of the MS nursing service and the benefits we can bring.’
Contact your MPs in fight for fair pay, says Peter Carter Nurses are being urged to contact their MPs to keep up the fight for fair pay after the government denied them a pay rise. Speaking after the RCN council meeting in London last week, general secretary Peter Carter said it is important that nurses know where their MPs stand on the issue. It follows health secretary Jeremy Hunt’s rejection of the NHS Pay Review Body’s recommendation to give all nurses a 1 per cent rise in 2014/15. Almost 330,000 nurses will miss out on the pay rise, which will be given only to nurses at the top of their pay bands. Dr Carter said: ‘There is a general election next year. There are 800 to 1,000 nurses in every constituency and
NURSING STANDARD
a number of MPs have small majorities – some of just 50 to 80 votes. The nurses’ vote will be very important. We want the MPs to state their position.’ RCN council member for Yorkshire and the Humber Anne Kennedy has already visited her local MP, shadow chancellor Ed Balls, at one of his surgeries to voice her anger about the pay issue. She said: ‘Nurses are demoralised by it. They wonder how much more they are going to be put through.’ She added that the MP for Morley and Outwood in West Yorkshire had ‘really listened’ to her, but she had been told by Mr Balls that Labour would not reverse the pay deal if it had been implemented if and when his party
came into power. Mr Balls wrote about meeting Ms Kennedy in a column in his local paper. He wrote: ‘Over the last few years, nurses, along with most other working people, have seen their standards of living falling as prices rise but their pay doesn’t keep up – they’re on average £1,600 a year worse off.’ Mr Hunt said the rise is ‘unaffordable’ and would risk patient care. The unions Unite and Unison are consulting their health service members over possible strike action. Nursing Standard has set up a petition urging the Department of Health in England to reconsider its decision not to give every nurse a 1 per cent rise. To sign the petition go to: tinyurl.com/Pay-Petition april 30 :: vol 28 no 35 :: 2014 9
Downloaded from RCNi.com by ${individualUser.displayName} on Nov 21, 2015. For personal use only. No other uses without permission. Copyright © 2015 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
