It really is a matter of priorities. With an expanding population of the very old, we must address the fact that older patients with multiple comorbidities are ending their days in acute settings with the prospect of ever more unwanted treatment along the way. Jane Robinson, by email

A ‘NAMED NURSE’ IS IMPORTANT, BUT TEAMWORK IS ESSENTIAL One of the recommendations of the Francis report and government’s response to the poor care at Mid Staffs was that every hospital patient should have the name of the consultant and nurse responsible for their care above their bed – the ‘responsible consultant/clinician’ and ‘named nurse’. While many NHS trusts with acute inpatient wards endorse the named nurse arrangement, it must not be at the expense of team and collective working. It is important for the named nurse to focus on his or her group of patients each shift, but the care of a particular patient is not the sole responsibility of a particular nurse. The responsibility for ward-based patients should extend to all nursing staff on duty in that area. The named nurse needs to ensure the holistic needs of patients are met on a shift and that the treatment plans are followed through. Nurses and healthcare assistants must not see particular patients as ‘theirs’ and ‘yours’ or ‘mine’ and ‘ours’. Good nursing is about individualised, safe and joined-up care – where effective teamwork benefits the patients and helps create professional, satisfying working environments. Donato Tallo, by email

CARE HOME RESIDENTS NEED TO BE PROTECTED FROM EVICTION As a carer and campaigner for people with disabilities and older people, I wrote in December to Mark Drakeford, the minister for health and social services in the Welsh Government. I requested his

unequivocal response to this question: ‘Will you agree with me it is surely wrong and unjust that older people have to sell their family homes where they would have enjoyed security of tenure to pay to live in care homes where they will have no legal security of tenure and are therefore exposed to possible life-threatening evictions without any legal redress?’ I received no reply. In 2004, I led a delegation to 10 Downing Street to deliver a 26,500-signature petition calling for a protective bill of rights for people in care homes who have no legal redress from being evicted. That petition was ignored, too. Adequate protective legislation for vulnerable older people living in care homes is still desperately needed. Ken Mack, Wrexham

USE A HOIST TO LIFT PATIENTS AND RISE FROM THE HIPS – NOT KNEES Reading Erin Dean’s report on my education package for moving and handling (Features February 18), I noticed a link to your Support in Practice supplement for healthcare assistants, and an article within it called ‘Reducing your risk of back injury at work’. In this, Nicola Davies states: ‘Use body mechanics: always lift from a squatting position, with your feet shoulder-width apart and back locked in a straight position.’ We should no longer lift patients, as this is what hoists are for, so I presume that this tip is for lifting an inanimate load such as a box. You should never squat when you lift from the floor, as this puts undue pressure on the knees. As educators we say: ‘Knees a little, hips a lot.’ The movement then comes from the pelvis, and not the knees or the ankles. Another point is that the back is not straight and should never be made to be straight. The spine is an evolved sloppy S-shape to allow for it to be strong in its buffering position. Stephen Wanless, director, Centre of Excellence in Posture, Movement and Handling, Birmingham City University

TWEETS OF THE WEEK We have open visiting on my ward & it works really well. Patients are less stressed & relatives not queuing for info at same time! @NIVninja

But mornings are so busy with washes and ward rounds I don’t see how we’d fit in visitors. @mandyw30

Families can often help patients recover quicker. So why stop them coming in? #NScomment @ColleyLeon

Don’t patients deserve and need some peace and quiet? @dedryman

Some find it hard to ask their relatives to leave. A bossy nurse can do it! @wendyjpitt61

Sometimes it’s helpful for relatives to see physio progression or help with washes for cultural reasons. @VeriR13

Visiting time on my ward coincides with eve meal. Older couples still eat together. @ButtercupBento

I think it needs to be part of individualised care – as a patient I wanted less visiting, as a relative I want more #NSComment @janes_blog

Follow Nursing Standard @NurseStandard and join the #NScomment chat on Thursdays at 12.30pm

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Care home residents need to be protected from eviction.

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