News Health visiting service providers are being given free access to a survey of families who use services. The Picker Institute Europe has developed the survey to support better understanding of people’s experiences of home visits and clinic appointments. It covers aspects of person-centred care, including accessing the service and emotional support. Go to tinyurl.com/zzxa8bk A new Institute of Healthcare Policy and Practice has opened at the University of the West of Scotland (UWS). The institute is the research hub for the UWS health, nursing and midwifery school. It has three main research areas: the deteriorating patient; dementia and later life; and maternal, child and family health. The RCN is emphasising the importance of infection prevention with the launch of a toolkit. A joint initiative with the Infection Prevention Society and NHS England, the toolkit highlights the significance of sepsis and its two main causes, pneumonia and urinary tract infection. Go to tinyurl.com/ju3xmfs The International Council of Nurses (ICN) has appointed RCN head of policy and international affairs Howard Catton, pictured, as a nursing consultant on socioeconomic issues. Mr Catton will join the ICN next month after 20 years at the RCN. His areas of responsibility include occupational health and safety, human resources development and migration. The University of Salford has appointed an interim dean for its school of nursing. Brian Boag, formerly the school’s associate dean, replaces Tony Warne who the university has appointed associate pro vice-chancellor. Mr Boag was previously an emergency care nurse practitioner and university teacher. 6
March 2016 | Volume 22 | Number 10
Number of higher-band nurses in the NHS is falling, figures show THE NUMBER of NHS matrons working in England fell from 6,338 in 2010 to 5,133 in 2015, figures released by the Health and Social Care Information Centre have revealed. Of the most recent figure, 3,919 are modern matrons, a role that the government introduced in 2001 in response to concerns about poor hygiene and falling standards in hospitals. The other 1,214 are community matrons who care for patients with long-term conditions. RCN head of policy Howard Catton said: ‘The government says it invests in nursing, and numbers have risen, but when you dig down past the headline figures you find there has been a disproportionate loss of higher-band roles.
Nursing associates’ role distinct from nurses’, says government HEALTH EDUCATION England has said that tasks undertaken by nursing associates would not overlap with those of nurses. A consultation on the introduction of the nursing associate role, which is seen as a bridge between healthcare assistants and registered nurses, was launched by Health Education England (HEE) at the end of January. Concerns have been expressed that nursing associates could take on work being done by registered staff. HEE director of nursing Lisa Bayliss-Pratt said nursing associates would be expected to do more than healthcare assistants, and would be responsible for providing the fundamentals of hands-on care. She added: ‘For example, recognising when someone is deteriorating and knowing when to get help. Maybe aspects of dressings and observations, and probably taking bloods. We will have to create a scope of practice that does not overlap with what graduate registered nurses will do.’ HEE has outlined tasks nursing associates would not be expected to carry out, including independently reviewing treatment plans,
‘Matrons are responsible for delivering patient care and maintaining standards in hospitals. They also act as role models and leaders of junior members of staff. ‘Unfortunately, when trusts look to save money they go for the top earners; they do not find out how crucial the work of matrons is until they have gone.’ A Department of Health spokesperson said that it is ‘up to hospital leaders to decide for themselves the type of staff they need’. John Houlihan
In brief
Matrons fill a vital role in the health service
measuring or evaluating progress to make decisions on patient care, managing or overseeing interventions and providing clinical expertise. However, in response to the consultation, Unison reiterated that the role is not an answer to nursing shortages. Head of health Christina McAnea added that training opportunities for healthcare assistants must be improved. Nursing and Midwifery Council chief executive Jackie Smith welcomed the consultation and said: ‘It is for the government to decide how nursing associates would enter the workforce, the specifics of their role and whether they should be regulated, but it is vital that the role has the rigour to attract public confidence.’ The new nursing associate role will require two years of on-the-job training that will lead to a foundation degree. With an additional two years of study, this can be converted into a full nursing degree, thereby creating a new route into the profession. Health minister Ben Gummer said: ‘This role will open up a career in nursing for thousands of people from all backgrounds, as well as offering career progression to healthcare assistants for the first time.’ ■ The consultation closes on March 11. To take part go to tinyurl.com/jrtk4tl NURSING MANAGEMENT
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March 2016 | Volume 22 | Number 10
Number of higher-band nurses in the NHS is falling, figures show THE NUMBER of NHS matrons working in England fell from 6,338 in 2010 to 5,133 in 2015, figures released by the Health and Social Care Information Centre have revealed. Of the most recent figure, 3,919 are modern matrons, a role that the government introduced in 2001 in response to concerns about poor hygiene and falling standards in hospitals. The other 1,214 are community matrons who care for patients with long-term conditions. RCN head of policy Howard Catton said: ‘The government says it invests in nursing, and numbers have risen, but when you dig down past the headline figures you find there has been a disproportionate loss of higher-band roles.
Nursing associates’ role distinct from nurses’, says government HEALTH EDUCATION England has said that tasks undertaken by nursing associates would not overlap with those of nurses. A consultation on the introduction of the nursing associate role, which is seen as a bridge between healthcare assistants and registered nurses, was launched by Health Education England (HEE) at the end of January. Concerns have been expressed that nursing associates could take on work being done by registered staff. HEE director of nursing Lisa Bayliss-Pratt said nursing associates would be expected to do more than healthcare assistants, and would be responsible for providing the fundamentals of hands-on care. She added: ‘For example, recognising when someone is deteriorating and knowing when to get help. Maybe aspects of dressings and observations, and probably taking bloods. We will have to create a scope of practice that does not overlap with what graduate registered nurses will do.’ HEE has outlined tasks nursing associates would not be expected to carry out, including independently reviewing treatment plans,
‘Matrons are responsible for delivering patient care and maintaining standards in hospitals. They also act as role models and leaders of junior members of staff. ‘Unfortunately, when trusts look to save money they go for the top earners; they do not find out how crucial the work of matrons is until they have gone.’ A Department of Health spokesperson said that it is ‘up to hospital leaders to decide for themselves the type of staff they need’. John Houlihan
In brief
Matrons fill a vital role in the health service
measuring or evaluating progress to make decisions on patient care, managing or overseeing interventions and providing clinical expertise. However, in response to the consultation, Unison reiterated that the role is not an answer to nursing shortages. Head of health Christina McAnea added that training opportunities for healthcare assistants must be improved. Nursing and Midwifery Council chief executive Jackie Smith welcomed the consultation and said: ‘It is for the government to decide how nursing associates would enter the workforce, the specifics of their role and whether they should be regulated, but it is vital that the role has the rigour to attract public confidence.’ The new nursing associate role will require two years of on-the-job training that will lead to a foundation degree. With an additional two years of study, this can be converted into a full nursing degree, thereby creating a new route into the profession. Health minister Ben Gummer said: ‘This role will open up a career in nursing for thousands of people from all backgrounds, as well as offering career progression to healthcare assistants for the first time.’ ■ The consultation closes on March 11. To take part go to tinyurl.com/jrtk4tl NURSING MANAGEMENT
Downloaded from RCNi.com by ${individualUser.displayName} on Jul 18, 2016. For personal use only. No other uses without permission. Copyright © 2016 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
