NEWS
Safe staffing legislation will change behaviour, says RCN Wales director Soaring spend on agency nurses in Wales could be cut if minimum staffing levels are introduced in hospitals, Welsh Assembly members have been told. Giving evidence to the assembly’s health and social care committee last week, RCN Wales director Tina Donnelly said spending on agency staff had gone up by 43 per cent between 2013 and 2014. Professor Donnelly told the committee, which is taking evidence about the Safe Nurse Staffing Levels (Wales) Bill drawn up by Liberal Democrat leader Kirsty Williams: ‘Between £25 million and £30 million has been spent this year on agency nurses. If you look at the 12 per cent commission fee on that, that is a heck of a lot of nursing staff.’ Professor Donnelly told members that health boards are not complying with the Welsh staffing principles and guidelines issued by chief nursing officer Jean White, and that there was insufficient evidence to demonstrate safe staffing on every shift in acute areas.
Professor Donnelly stressed the importance of having the numbers enshrined in law. ‘It changes behaviour when you have legislation. If you know that you will be accountable for it, then you will deliver on it,’ she said. Unison is urging nurses and midwives to record the nurse-to-patient ratio on their shift on February 10 as part of a major national survey. Unison head of nursing Gail Adams said: ‘This is the fourth year we have carried out this survey. Worryingly, last
year’s survey revealed there were not enough staff to deliver all elements of safe, dignified and compassionate care. ‘Research tells us that if you are looking after eight or more patients then harm is occurring. Almost half of last year’s respondents were looking after eight or more patients for the duration of their shift.’ The survey is open to all nurses and midwives and responses are anonymous. It must be completed on a form and submitted by 9am on February 16. PA PHOTOS
By Tony Green
Ideal staffing
Assembly member Lindsay Whittle asked Ms Donnelly to elaborate on the use of agency staff. Professor Donnelly pointed to a three-month pilot carried out by Aneurin Bevan Health Board that looked at the ‘perfect ward’ with an ideal number of nursing staff. ‘For the first month, there was a 6 per cent increase in staffing costs, which tells me people are being brought up to a safe level. Actually, when you look at the following two months, there were decreases in staff sickness, infection, and slips, trips and falls – all the measurements nurses are held to account for in terms of what it means to provide safe care.’
OBE FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE NURSE A former Nursing Standard nurse of the year has been made an OBE at Buckingham Palace. Johanne Tomlinson, a senior nurse in anxiety management at Stafford Prison, collected the honour from Prince Charles last week.
Speaking after the investiture ceremony, she said: ‘It was nerve-wracking, but also wonderful.’ Ms Tomlinson was named nurse of the year by Nursing Standard in 2012 after she set up a mental health support service for prisoners.
NURSING february :: voluses 29without no 23 ::permission. 2015 9 DownloadedSTANDARD from RCNi.com by ${individualUser.displayName} on Nov 24, 2015. For personal use only. No4other Copyright © 2015 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
Safe staffing legislation will change behaviour, says RCN Wales director Soaring spend on agency nurses in Wales could be cut if minimum staffing levels are introduced in hospitals, Welsh Assembly members have been told. Giving evidence to the assembly’s health and social care committee last week, RCN Wales director Tina Donnelly said spending on agency staff had gone up by 43 per cent between 2013 and 2014. Professor Donnelly told the committee, which is taking evidence about the Safe Nurse Staffing Levels (Wales) Bill drawn up by Liberal Democrat leader Kirsty Williams: ‘Between £25 million and £30 million has been spent this year on agency nurses. If you look at the 12 per cent commission fee on that, that is a heck of a lot of nursing staff.’ Professor Donnelly told members that health boards are not complying with the Welsh staffing principles and guidelines issued by chief nursing officer Jean White, and that there was insufficient evidence to demonstrate safe staffing on every shift in acute areas.
Professor Donnelly stressed the importance of having the numbers enshrined in law. ‘It changes behaviour when you have legislation. If you know that you will be accountable for it, then you will deliver on it,’ she said. Unison is urging nurses and midwives to record the nurse-to-patient ratio on their shift on February 10 as part of a major national survey. Unison head of nursing Gail Adams said: ‘This is the fourth year we have carried out this survey. Worryingly, last
year’s survey revealed there were not enough staff to deliver all elements of safe, dignified and compassionate care. ‘Research tells us that if you are looking after eight or more patients then harm is occurring. Almost half of last year’s respondents were looking after eight or more patients for the duration of their shift.’ The survey is open to all nurses and midwives and responses are anonymous. It must be completed on a form and submitted by 9am on February 16. PA PHOTOS
By Tony Green
Ideal staffing
Assembly member Lindsay Whittle asked Ms Donnelly to elaborate on the use of agency staff. Professor Donnelly pointed to a three-month pilot carried out by Aneurin Bevan Health Board that looked at the ‘perfect ward’ with an ideal number of nursing staff. ‘For the first month, there was a 6 per cent increase in staffing costs, which tells me people are being brought up to a safe level. Actually, when you look at the following two months, there were decreases in staff sickness, infection, and slips, trips and falls – all the measurements nurses are held to account for in terms of what it means to provide safe care.’
OBE FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE NURSE A former Nursing Standard nurse of the year has been made an OBE at Buckingham Palace. Johanne Tomlinson, a senior nurse in anxiety management at Stafford Prison, collected the honour from Prince Charles last week.
Speaking after the investiture ceremony, she said: ‘It was nerve-wracking, but also wonderful.’ Ms Tomlinson was named nurse of the year by Nursing Standard in 2012 after she set up a mental health support service for prisoners.
NURSING february :: voluses 29without no 23 ::permission. 2015 9 DownloadedSTANDARD from RCNi.com by ${individualUser.displayName} on Nov 24, 2015. For personal use only. No4other Copyright © 2015 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
