Newsroom
Half of NHS Trusts Declared a Major Alert Status in January
Sixty-six out of 152 trusts declared a major alert status as mounting bed shortages and large numbers of patients are leading to long trolley waits and delays in A&E.
The number of major alerts, which used to be known as red and black alerts, is at the highest ever recorded with no end in sight with just under half of all hospital declaring an incident.
In total, 25 NHS Trusts declared major alerts every day between January 3rd and 8th.
The eight trusts that issued a OPEL 4 (the highest alert status) are; University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, North Bristol NHS Trust, Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust, Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, Aintree University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, University Hospitals Of Leicester NHS Trust, University Hospitals Of North Midlands NHS Trust and Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust.
Performance against the governments four-hour target appears to have sunk to its lowest level since it was first introduced in 2004.
Hospitals have started calling in extra staff, cancelling routine appointments and diverting ambulances away from their hospital (this happened at 39 A&E departments).
Dr Chris Moulton, of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, said: “It was an incredibly hard week in a very difficult winter. It is probably the most challenging it has been for 15 years. All hospitals are experiencing difficulties – and the same is true in Wales and Northern Ireland and, to a lesser extent, Scotland.“
Newsroom
Safe staffing and equality have been an issue since the start
Parliament passed the Nurses Registration Act in 1919.
A new exhibition charts the history of nursing from the Nurses Registration Act to modern-day.
In the centenary year of nurse registration, a new exhibition charts the history of the journey from the Nurses Registration Act in 1919 through to the modern-day.
Called ‘Wake up Slackers! The great nursing registration controversy’ the exhibition looks at the heated arguments around the official registration of nurses through the first registration of men, overseas nurses and one of the first nurses to be struck off.
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) was just three years old when registration first happened and securing this had been part of its founding ambitions.
The exhibition shows how many of the discussions and controversies of the past, including safe staffing, continue today and influence many of the discussions around modern nursing.
The Nurses Registration Act.
The exhibit contains artefacts from the RCN archive including invites to member meetings to discuss the College’s proposals for state registration, House of Commons Parliamentary debates during the year the Nurses Registration Act was passed in 1919, as well as drafts of legislation.
Opening during Black History Month, the exhibition also showcases the story of Eva Lowe, one of the first known black nurses on the register. Research shows how, despite being well qualified she was rejected many times before finding employment. It shows how she received vague and unsatisfactory excuses for her rejection, some based on false concern for her welfare.
As well as letters and documents from the RCN’s own archive, the exhibition will also feature items loaned from other collections such as that of the regulator the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
Are nurses born or made?
Frances Reed, Events and Exhibitions Co-ordinator at the Royal College of Nursing said: “It is incredible today to think that 100 years ago there were arguments about whether or not nurses should be registered.
“Today it seems unthinkable for somebody with such responsibility for the welfare of patients not to be registered and yet there were strident clashes over it, despite other health professions securing regulation well before nursing.
“The story of the first black nurse on the register, Eva Lowe is important to highlight too. There is little known about black nurses whose names are on the very early 1920s registers. It is essential we recognise that their contribution to health care existed well before Windrush.
“It’s also particularly striking to see how hard Eva Lowe had to fight to become the first black nurse on the register, and how 100 years later racial inequalities still exist in the health and care system.
The exhibition runs at RCN HQ in Cavendish Square, London 17 October – 20 March 2020
Education
One in six nursing associates drop out before qualifying, finds report
Despite this trainees showed “high levels of enthusiasm and commitment to the programme”.
Only 65% of trainee nursing associates said they planned to work as a nursing associate once qualified.
An independent evaluation of the nursing associate role commissioned by Health Education England (HEE) has found that while there are “high levels of enthusiasm and commitment to the programme”, one in six nursing associates are dropping out before completing the course.
Attrition rates for trainee nursing associates fell slightly below that of student nurses, with 18% leaving before completing the course.
While ill health and personal issues were some of the most common reasons for leaving the programme, nearly a quarter (23%) withdrew because they failed to meet the academic requirements of the programme – with numeracy skills cited as a key issue.
One trainee said they found the “attitudes towards the role and the negative feedback about Nursing Associates” challenging.
Only 65% of trainees said they intend to continue working as a nursing associate once qualified as the programme is often seen as a stepping stone to becoming a registered nursing.
Highlighting challenges.
Mark Radford, Chief Nursing Officer, Health Education England said the report “highlights some challenges that we must address to ensure that students such as ensuring the quality and oversight of placements, attrition and numeracy support.”
“We also recognise that further work and research is required to ensure that the profession is supported and utilised in the workforce of health and social care as part of the MDT. I am pleased to be able to report that we are in the process of identifying candidates to be considered as NA ambassadors across England.
Commenting on the report, Andrea Sutcliffe, Chief Executive and Registrar for the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), said; “Having had the pleasure of meeting many nursing associates across the country, I am continually inspired by their enthusiasm and dedication for providing care and they should be very proud of the difference they make for the people they support.”
“I look forward to seeing how nursing associates continue to develop and be supported in their work, long into the future.”
Mental health and learning disability services are deteriorating, says CQC
Growing pressure on services alongside chronic staffing issues risk creating a ‘perfect storm’ for patients.
Nursing vacancies hit record high leaving patient care at risk
It can be "dangerous" when there aren’t enough nurses to provide care.
Healthcare staff have a ‘professional responsibility’ to get the flu vaccine
This seasons flu vaccination target is set “above 90%”.
Second nurse in a week dies on their way home from work
She was on her way home after finishing her night shift when the accident occurred.
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