News
Government commits to seven-day NHS By Alistair Kleebauer @alistairbauer and Cathy Comerford THE NEW Conservative government will press ahead with plans to introduce a seven-day NHS by 2020. Health secretary Jeremy Hunt, who kept the role in prime minister David Cameron’s cabinet reshuffle, will put into action the party’s election manifesto promise for a ‘truly’ seven-day NHS. Hospitals will be ‘properly staffed so that the quality of care is the same every day of the week’, the plans state. The manifesto promised that patients will be able to have a named GP and people aged over 75 will be guaranteed same-day GP appointments. The NHS Pay Review Body (RB) is expected to publish a report next month after being asked last summer by the coalition government to examine how
In brief A nurse has been appointed to lead an NHS advisory service to help commissioners boost services for patients with neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis. Former RCN policy adviser Sue Thomas (pictured) is chief executive of the newly formed directorate of NHiS Commissioning Excellence. The service will help clinical commissioning groups interpret admissions data and devise ideas for saving money and improving care for patients with neurological conditions. Director of RCN Wales Tina Donnelly has launched the college’s Nurse of the Year Awards 2015 in Cardiff. The awards recognise nurses in Wales who show distinction in care, leadership, service and innovation. The winners in 16 categories will be announced at an event in Cardiff in November. Nominations close on June 25. Go to www.tinyurl.com/walesnurse 6
Lack of funding and insufficient staff could see the removal of rates for unsocial hours to provide seven-day services without increasing existing spending. In February, the RCN published its own general election manifesto, Nursing Counts, which called on the government to improve patient care, value nursing and invest in health and social care. RCN general secretary Peter Carter said: ‘In the run up to the general election all parties made big commitments regarding the NHS. The Conservatives promised a cash injection of £8 billion and we would like to see that honoured.’ In a submission to the RB last December, the Department of Health said existing NHS staff contracts could be a barrier to seven-day working and one
option would be to remove unsocial-hours payments entirely. Following the election result, Unison head of health Christina McAnea said: ‘Staff such as nurses, occupational therapists and physiotherapists who work unsocial hours currently get a fair payment for it. ‘The Conservatives want to stop that and they expect staff to fund seven-day working. But we will do everything we can to make sure this does not happen.’ In Scotland, the Scottish National Party secured a historic victory, winning 56 out of 59 seats. A party spokesperson said: ‘We will make sure Scotland’s NHS is always cared for, its budget protected and its future secure in public hands.’
NHS Employers selects ‘equality and diversity’ partners
hard to improve the experience of all the people we employ, as well as improve access for all the communities we serve. ’
Twenty five organisations have joined forces to promote equality in the NHS workplace in 2015/16. These ‘equality and diversity partners’ have been selected by NHS Employers from 42 organisations to network with each other and the wider NHS, expanding on the success of previous years’ partners in influencing policy and improving performance. They will explore areas, such as gender equality, where the NHS is said to be strong but also work together on urgent areas, such as the career progress of people from black and minority ethnicity backgrounds and the employment of people with learning disabilities. The partners are diverse, including health trusts, clinical commissioning groups and a commissioning support unit and charities. All were selected for their innovative equality and diversity programmes. Chief executive of NHS Employers Danny Mortimer said: ‘The NHS continues to work
i Find out more For details of the support and activities offered by NHS Employers, see tinyurl.com/pu6tju3
General practice staff asked to complete online QNI survey THE QUEEN’S Nursing Institute (QNI) is asking nurses in general practice to complete a survey that will inform a major piece of work aimed at supporting this staff group. In 2009, the QNI launched 2020 Vision, which provided the evidence for its strategy to support district nurses. More than 1,000 community nurses completed a survey to inform that report, and the QNI is hoping for a similar response from general practice nurses. The survey is accessible via www.surveymonkey.com/r/TWWNYMM and is open until June 26.
June 2015 | Volume 22 | Number 3 NURSING MANAGEMENT Downloaded from RCNi.com by ${individualUser.displayName} on Nov 30, 2015. For personal use only. No other uses without permission. Copyright © 2015 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
Government commits to seven-day NHS By Alistair Kleebauer @alistairbauer and Cathy Comerford THE NEW Conservative government will press ahead with plans to introduce a seven-day NHS by 2020. Health secretary Jeremy Hunt, who kept the role in prime minister David Cameron’s cabinet reshuffle, will put into action the party’s election manifesto promise for a ‘truly’ seven-day NHS. Hospitals will be ‘properly staffed so that the quality of care is the same every day of the week’, the plans state. The manifesto promised that patients will be able to have a named GP and people aged over 75 will be guaranteed same-day GP appointments. The NHS Pay Review Body (RB) is expected to publish a report next month after being asked last summer by the coalition government to examine how
In brief A nurse has been appointed to lead an NHS advisory service to help commissioners boost services for patients with neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis. Former RCN policy adviser Sue Thomas (pictured) is chief executive of the newly formed directorate of NHiS Commissioning Excellence. The service will help clinical commissioning groups interpret admissions data and devise ideas for saving money and improving care for patients with neurological conditions. Director of RCN Wales Tina Donnelly has launched the college’s Nurse of the Year Awards 2015 in Cardiff. The awards recognise nurses in Wales who show distinction in care, leadership, service and innovation. The winners in 16 categories will be announced at an event in Cardiff in November. Nominations close on June 25. Go to www.tinyurl.com/walesnurse 6
Lack of funding and insufficient staff could see the removal of rates for unsocial hours to provide seven-day services without increasing existing spending. In February, the RCN published its own general election manifesto, Nursing Counts, which called on the government to improve patient care, value nursing and invest in health and social care. RCN general secretary Peter Carter said: ‘In the run up to the general election all parties made big commitments regarding the NHS. The Conservatives promised a cash injection of £8 billion and we would like to see that honoured.’ In a submission to the RB last December, the Department of Health said existing NHS staff contracts could be a barrier to seven-day working and one
option would be to remove unsocial-hours payments entirely. Following the election result, Unison head of health Christina McAnea said: ‘Staff such as nurses, occupational therapists and physiotherapists who work unsocial hours currently get a fair payment for it. ‘The Conservatives want to stop that and they expect staff to fund seven-day working. But we will do everything we can to make sure this does not happen.’ In Scotland, the Scottish National Party secured a historic victory, winning 56 out of 59 seats. A party spokesperson said: ‘We will make sure Scotland’s NHS is always cared for, its budget protected and its future secure in public hands.’
NHS Employers selects ‘equality and diversity’ partners
hard to improve the experience of all the people we employ, as well as improve access for all the communities we serve. ’
Twenty five organisations have joined forces to promote equality in the NHS workplace in 2015/16. These ‘equality and diversity partners’ have been selected by NHS Employers from 42 organisations to network with each other and the wider NHS, expanding on the success of previous years’ partners in influencing policy and improving performance. They will explore areas, such as gender equality, where the NHS is said to be strong but also work together on urgent areas, such as the career progress of people from black and minority ethnicity backgrounds and the employment of people with learning disabilities. The partners are diverse, including health trusts, clinical commissioning groups and a commissioning support unit and charities. All were selected for their innovative equality and diversity programmes. Chief executive of NHS Employers Danny Mortimer said: ‘The NHS continues to work
i Find out more For details of the support and activities offered by NHS Employers, see tinyurl.com/pu6tju3
General practice staff asked to complete online QNI survey THE QUEEN’S Nursing Institute (QNI) is asking nurses in general practice to complete a survey that will inform a major piece of work aimed at supporting this staff group. In 2009, the QNI launched 2020 Vision, which provided the evidence for its strategy to support district nurses. More than 1,000 community nurses completed a survey to inform that report, and the QNI is hoping for a similar response from general practice nurses. The survey is accessible via www.surveymonkey.com/r/TWWNYMM and is open until June 26.
June 2015 | Volume 22 | Number 3 NURSING MANAGEMENT Downloaded from RCNi.com by ${individualUser.displayName} on Nov 30, 2015. For personal use only. No other uses without permission. Copyright © 2015 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
