But the government is desperate to avoid life-threatening mistakes being linked to understaffing. They simply do not want to be forced to make any additional investment in nursing and nurse numbers. Loveday Janes, by email
PUTTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT ON THE NUMBER OF NMC’S PRE-2011 CASES Your story about the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s annual accountability hearing with the health committee (News, January 8) implies that we have more than 400 cases that originated before 2011. We have managed to clear all our pre-2011 cases, with the exception of a handful that are subject to delays beyond our control, such as police investigations. We are getting quicker at hearing cases and the number of cases open since January 2012 has fallen to 362 since our accountability hearing – less than 10 per cent of our caseload. We will be able to make even more progress when the legislative changes to healthcare regulation being drawn up by the Law Commission are agreed. I am pleased that the health select committee agrees that these changes are needed urgently to help us to protect the public. Jackie Smith, chief executive and registrar, Nursing and Midwifery Council, London
LETTERS HOME FROM A FIRST WORLD WAR HERO ARE A FASCINATING READ When Britain went to war in 1914 – 100 years ago – people from all backgrounds rallied to the cause, determined to fight or be useful in some other way. Dorothie Feilding, the 25-year-old daughter of the Earl and Countess of Denbigh, wasted no time in volunteering for the Munro Motor Ambulance Corps. Spending almost four years on the Western Front in Belgium driving ambulances, she had the distinction of being the first woman to be awarded the Military Medal for her bravery in
the field, as well as the French Croix de Guerre and the Belgian Order of Leopold II for services to their wounded. Her letters home have been published as Lady under Fire on the Western Front (Pen and Sword Books, £19.99). They make for fascinating reading. Julian Somers, by email
WE ARE ORDINARY, SKILLED PEOPLE DOING EXTRAORDINARY WORK In this year when the centenary of the start of the first world war is being commemorated, it would be great to hear about some of the unsung nursing heroes of bygone days. But please let’s not go down the route of talking about today’s nurses as not being a patch on the ‘angels with a vocation’ who went before. We are not angels and most of us do not have a vocation. We are ordinary people doing extraordinary work as skilled career professionals. Susie Rogers, by email
TWEETS OF THE WEEK Being a nurse is a state of mind, professionalism, diverse skills. It’s about the very best of being a human #Nurse @Bartontd
Patients/carers experiencing nurses’ care must have role in validation process. Otherwise, it will not be credible @PublicInvolve A nurse is fit to practice when validated by hard evidence, not by opinions, subjective comments or tick-box courses @NursingABC
We should not be afraid of patients and carers finding a louder voice. We should embrace it #NHS @lucyjmarsters
THAILAND MIGHT HOLD THE ANSWER TO AFFORDABLE OLDER PEOPLE’S CARE The care of older people is an enormous drain on the NHS (News January 8). The cost is escalating, particularly as many more people with a range of chronic and complex conditions are living longer. I have a money-saving suggestion for the NHS. It could follow the lead of Sybille Wiedmer from Zurich, who four years ago moved her mother to a nursing home in the Thai city of Chiang Mai. Her mother Elisabeth is living comfortably in a home with a dozen other Swiss and German residents. Sybille says her mother, who has dementia, is lovingly cared for. They speak on Skype every day and Sybille visits her twice a year. Elisabeth’s care in Thailand is also more affordable. In Switzerland, care home fees range from £3,000 to £6,000 a month. In Thailand, the cost is £1,820 – and this is for a care package that is more comprehensive. Rachel Potter, by email
Lots of nurses are in charge of their professional development, providing they can afford to pay and do it in their own time. @nursehels
We’ve just had appraisal system changed. Nobody understands it. Should be simple, robust and support development #NSComment @BunzBird
A total lack of discipline on hand hygiene needs to be tackled – nurses are trained, yet still ignore basic rules @GGByrne
Follow Nursing Standard @NScomment and join the #NScomment chat on Thursdays at 12.30pm
NURSING STANDARD january 15 :: vol 28 no 20 :: 2014 33 Downloaded from RCNi.com by ${individualUser.displayName} on Dec 04, 2015. For personal use only. No other uses without permission. Copyright © 2015 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
PUTTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT ON THE NUMBER OF NMC’S PRE-2011 CASES Your story about the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s annual accountability hearing with the health committee (News, January 8) implies that we have more than 400 cases that originated before 2011. We have managed to clear all our pre-2011 cases, with the exception of a handful that are subject to delays beyond our control, such as police investigations. We are getting quicker at hearing cases and the number of cases open since January 2012 has fallen to 362 since our accountability hearing – less than 10 per cent of our caseload. We will be able to make even more progress when the legislative changes to healthcare regulation being drawn up by the Law Commission are agreed. I am pleased that the health select committee agrees that these changes are needed urgently to help us to protect the public. Jackie Smith, chief executive and registrar, Nursing and Midwifery Council, London
LETTERS HOME FROM A FIRST WORLD WAR HERO ARE A FASCINATING READ When Britain went to war in 1914 – 100 years ago – people from all backgrounds rallied to the cause, determined to fight or be useful in some other way. Dorothie Feilding, the 25-year-old daughter of the Earl and Countess of Denbigh, wasted no time in volunteering for the Munro Motor Ambulance Corps. Spending almost four years on the Western Front in Belgium driving ambulances, she had the distinction of being the first woman to be awarded the Military Medal for her bravery in
the field, as well as the French Croix de Guerre and the Belgian Order of Leopold II for services to their wounded. Her letters home have been published as Lady under Fire on the Western Front (Pen and Sword Books, £19.99). They make for fascinating reading. Julian Somers, by email
WE ARE ORDINARY, SKILLED PEOPLE DOING EXTRAORDINARY WORK In this year when the centenary of the start of the first world war is being commemorated, it would be great to hear about some of the unsung nursing heroes of bygone days. But please let’s not go down the route of talking about today’s nurses as not being a patch on the ‘angels with a vocation’ who went before. We are not angels and most of us do not have a vocation. We are ordinary people doing extraordinary work as skilled career professionals. Susie Rogers, by email
TWEETS OF THE WEEK Being a nurse is a state of mind, professionalism, diverse skills. It’s about the very best of being a human #Nurse @Bartontd
Patients/carers experiencing nurses’ care must have role in validation process. Otherwise, it will not be credible @PublicInvolve A nurse is fit to practice when validated by hard evidence, not by opinions, subjective comments or tick-box courses @NursingABC
We should not be afraid of patients and carers finding a louder voice. We should embrace it #NHS @lucyjmarsters
THAILAND MIGHT HOLD THE ANSWER TO AFFORDABLE OLDER PEOPLE’S CARE The care of older people is an enormous drain on the NHS (News January 8). The cost is escalating, particularly as many more people with a range of chronic and complex conditions are living longer. I have a money-saving suggestion for the NHS. It could follow the lead of Sybille Wiedmer from Zurich, who four years ago moved her mother to a nursing home in the Thai city of Chiang Mai. Her mother Elisabeth is living comfortably in a home with a dozen other Swiss and German residents. Sybille says her mother, who has dementia, is lovingly cared for. They speak on Skype every day and Sybille visits her twice a year. Elisabeth’s care in Thailand is also more affordable. In Switzerland, care home fees range from £3,000 to £6,000 a month. In Thailand, the cost is £1,820 – and this is for a care package that is more comprehensive. Rachel Potter, by email
Lots of nurses are in charge of their professional development, providing they can afford to pay and do it in their own time. @nursehels
We’ve just had appraisal system changed. Nobody understands it. Should be simple, robust and support development #NSComment @BunzBird
A total lack of discipline on hand hygiene needs to be tackled – nurses are trained, yet still ignore basic rules @GGByrne
Follow Nursing Standard @NScomment and join the #NScomment chat on Thursdays at 12.30pm
NURSING STANDARD january 15 :: vol 28 no 20 :: 2014 33 Downloaded from RCNi.com by ${individualUser.displayName} on Dec 04, 2015. For personal use only. No other uses without permission. Copyright © 2015 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
