would damage the hospital-wide teamwork that is so vital in today’s NHS. Everyone in the health service is working hard to maintain patient safety and provide good care – not just A&E nurses. Mark Kimber, by email
CHOCOLATES ARE PARTICULARLY WELCOME ON THE WARDS IN A&E I read with amusement Kat Keogh’s article suggesting that nurses should avoid eating chocolates given as gifts by patients (News December 17). Apparently, a 2013 study found that chocolates last just 51 minutes around healthcare workers on a ward. I would challenge these findings. A box of chocolates would not last through handover in my department. While I support your Eat Well, Nurse Well campaign, nurses being overweight or unhealthy is not about food choices. It is about food chances. On a 12.5-hour shift in A&E, I am entitled to a ten-minute break in the morning and a 30-minute break in the afternoon. These breaks are unpaid. We are often too busy to take these breaks. But we are not allowed to take a cup of tea or coffee into the department. No other professionals would be expected to work effectively under these conditions. Because of the nature of the ward and the job we do, we don’t often get chocolates from patients. But, believe me, on the rare occasion that a patient gives us chocolates, they are very welcome. Lee Moore, by email
CHILDREN ARE BEING LET DOWN BY THEIR MENTAL HEALTH PROVISION Dean-David Holyoake says there have been problems with the provision of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) since it was founded in 1995 (Reflections January 7). In addition to a recent critical report from the health select committee, a national survey of educational psychologists has highlighted growing
NURSING STANDARD
concern that they are rarely consulted by children’s agencies. We have seen an alarming rise in the diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children, leading to too many very young children being treated with the drug methylphenidate (Ritalin). There is also evidence that non-medical social and psychological interventions are not being offered first, in accordance with guidelines. CAMHS is dominated by a medical approach. But the diagnosis for conditions such as ADHD, conduct disorder and Asperger syndrome lacks much in the way of scientific evidence. This has led in many cases to the child and young person being seen as the problem. Michael Owen, Bolton
ARE NURSES FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION ABLE TO GET HOSPITAL JOBS? I am a Polish nurse with a master’s degree and four years’ experience. You kindly published a letter from me last year, ‘I am banging my head against a brick wall to gain registration’ (October 29). In November, after my letter was published, I obtained my PIN number and started applying for jobs. I sent my CV to a few nursing homes and submitted an application for a nursing job at my local hospital. After a few days I received a brief email from the hospital to say I had not qualified for the interview. I made another application and received a similar reply. I now read a letter from nurse Cher Goodyer, ‘European nurses lose out in terms of registration and skills’ (January 7). Her professional experience of working as a nurse in mainland Europe for 16 years counted for nothing, as she did not have British training certificates. She is now working in a care home. Are nurses from the European Union only permitted to fill the gaps in nursing homes in the UK? It would appear that NHS trust hospitals are not for us. Agnieszka Wroblewska, by email
TWEETS OF THE WEEK (Scrapping unsocial hours payments) = another attack on the profession. It will encourage NHS trained staff to find employment elsewhere #That’sAWaste #NScomment @barberelle
So cutting pay at weekends will improve care – how? @carol2k2
Would be big reduction in pay, will lower morale, nurses less likely to do unsocial hours. Pay low enough already @nurseboothroyd
Huge numbers of AfC staff work in #7dayservices already. We shouldn’t have to foot this bill @MsNaughtyCheese
We often can’t take unpaid breaks due to staffing shortages/ workload, so to cut unsocial hours pay too? #lowmorale @shinybluedress
It might backfire as nurses will no longer want to work nights or weekends and ultimately patients will suffer @seanfdocherty
Too many have the attitude that we’re lucky to have a job. They will never agitate when they’re scared @edfreshwater
The strongest tool we have this year is our vote. If your MP doesn’t back nurses, don’t back them @GGByrneSTN
Follow Nursing Standard @NScomment and join the #NScomment chat on Thursdays at 12.30pm january 21 :: vol 29 no 21 :: 2015 35
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CHOCOLATES ARE PARTICULARLY WELCOME ON THE WARDS IN A&E I read with amusement Kat Keogh’s article suggesting that nurses should avoid eating chocolates given as gifts by patients (News December 17). Apparently, a 2013 study found that chocolates last just 51 minutes around healthcare workers on a ward. I would challenge these findings. A box of chocolates would not last through handover in my department. While I support your Eat Well, Nurse Well campaign, nurses being overweight or unhealthy is not about food choices. It is about food chances. On a 12.5-hour shift in A&E, I am entitled to a ten-minute break in the morning and a 30-minute break in the afternoon. These breaks are unpaid. We are often too busy to take these breaks. But we are not allowed to take a cup of tea or coffee into the department. No other professionals would be expected to work effectively under these conditions. Because of the nature of the ward and the job we do, we don’t often get chocolates from patients. But, believe me, on the rare occasion that a patient gives us chocolates, they are very welcome. Lee Moore, by email
CHILDREN ARE BEING LET DOWN BY THEIR MENTAL HEALTH PROVISION Dean-David Holyoake says there have been problems with the provision of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) since it was founded in 1995 (Reflections January 7). In addition to a recent critical report from the health select committee, a national survey of educational psychologists has highlighted growing
NURSING STANDARD
concern that they are rarely consulted by children’s agencies. We have seen an alarming rise in the diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children, leading to too many very young children being treated with the drug methylphenidate (Ritalin). There is also evidence that non-medical social and psychological interventions are not being offered first, in accordance with guidelines. CAMHS is dominated by a medical approach. But the diagnosis for conditions such as ADHD, conduct disorder and Asperger syndrome lacks much in the way of scientific evidence. This has led in many cases to the child and young person being seen as the problem. Michael Owen, Bolton
ARE NURSES FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION ABLE TO GET HOSPITAL JOBS? I am a Polish nurse with a master’s degree and four years’ experience. You kindly published a letter from me last year, ‘I am banging my head against a brick wall to gain registration’ (October 29). In November, after my letter was published, I obtained my PIN number and started applying for jobs. I sent my CV to a few nursing homes and submitted an application for a nursing job at my local hospital. After a few days I received a brief email from the hospital to say I had not qualified for the interview. I made another application and received a similar reply. I now read a letter from nurse Cher Goodyer, ‘European nurses lose out in terms of registration and skills’ (January 7). Her professional experience of working as a nurse in mainland Europe for 16 years counted for nothing, as she did not have British training certificates. She is now working in a care home. Are nurses from the European Union only permitted to fill the gaps in nursing homes in the UK? It would appear that NHS trust hospitals are not for us. Agnieszka Wroblewska, by email
TWEETS OF THE WEEK (Scrapping unsocial hours payments) = another attack on the profession. It will encourage NHS trained staff to find employment elsewhere #That’sAWaste #NScomment @barberelle
So cutting pay at weekends will improve care – how? @carol2k2
Would be big reduction in pay, will lower morale, nurses less likely to do unsocial hours. Pay low enough already @nurseboothroyd
Huge numbers of AfC staff work in #7dayservices already. We shouldn’t have to foot this bill @MsNaughtyCheese
We often can’t take unpaid breaks due to staffing shortages/ workload, so to cut unsocial hours pay too? #lowmorale @shinybluedress
It might backfire as nurses will no longer want to work nights or weekends and ultimately patients will suffer @seanfdocherty
Too many have the attitude that we’re lucky to have a job. They will never agitate when they’re scared @edfreshwater
The strongest tool we have this year is our vote. If your MP doesn’t back nurses, don’t back them @GGByrneSTN
Follow Nursing Standard @NScomment and join the #NScomment chat on Thursdays at 12.30pm january 21 :: vol 29 no 21 :: 2015 35
Downloaded from RCNi.com by ${individualUser.displayName} on Nov 18, 2015. For personal use only. No other uses without permission. Copyright © 2015 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
