Letters
We welcome all readers’ letters, but reserve the right to edit them or withhold names and addresses. Please email: [email protected]
Please keep letters to a maximum of 150 words, and include your full name, address and a daytime telephone number
In the face of more budget cuts, nurses face uphill struggle to secure fair pay Delegates at last month’s RCN congress in Liverpool sent out a clear message that the NHS should remain free at the point of delivery (News June 25). A resolution calling for a fixed fee of £10 to be introduced for GP appointments was rejected by 91 per cent of delegates. Speakers said that introducing a charge could deter many people from seeking medical attention and be another nail in the coffin of the NHS. The NHS has generally come out well on access to treatment, although there has been some recent slippage with outpatient waiting lists, delays in emergency departments and getting appointments with GPs. Harsh choices will have to be made as further budget cuts are in the pipeline, and there will need to be a tighter rationing of care, treatment and expensive medication. In this stark scenario of rationing and cutbacks, the campaign for safe staffing levels and pay rises for nurses, healthcare assistants and care workers is going to be even more of an uphill struggle. Bridget Ryan, by email
THE GAP IS WIDENING BETWEEN FRONT LINE STAFF AND MANAGERS Nurses and managers are far from being ‘all in it together’ (Analysis June 25). Senior managers’ pay increased on average by 6.1 per cent in the past two years, while nurses’ pay increased by just 1.6 per cent. With those on lower pay bands receiving pennies and higher paid managers getting a sizeable year-on-year increase, the disparity between the front line staff and managers is getting wider. There is also the issue of bonuses, benefits, expenses and perks such as company cars and mileage allowances.
I am shocked to read that two trust chief executives each received bonuses last year of £40,000. This is obscene. Sally Harding, by email
OUR NHS IS A WORLD LEADER, BUT IT COULD DO MORE ON PREVENTION I am heartened that a recent survey undertaken by the American-based Commonwealth Fund (www. commonwealthfund.org) revealed that the NHS is one the world’s best healthcare systems. The United States ranks last overall on measures of health system quality, efficiency, access to care, equity and healthy lives. This is despite having the most expensive healthcare system of the 11 western countries surveyed. Having worked in the US, and with family living in New York State, I have seen the best and the worst of health care in the US and in England. In the US, there is a greater emphasis on preventive healthcare and medicine, but only for those able to afford health insurance. The NHS in England is
good at critical care, looking after those who are poorly, and there is generally good access to primary care. I would like the NHS to focus more on the prevention of disease and ill-health, on helping improve quality of life and health, and cutting waste and bureaucracy. The administration costs in the US are particularly high, but much of this is to do with billing for services and medication. Christine Clark, by email
DESIGNING HEALTH POLICIES TO WIN VOTES IS DESPICABLE BEHAVIOUR In a recent survey, three quarters of the respondents said they believe that key health policies are shaped primarily to win votes (online news digest June 23). They say the political parties design health policy to ‘score points at the despatch box’ rather than protect and improve the NHS. Two thirds of the respondents want politicians to have no say in the running of the health service. The National Health Action Party agrees with the overwhelming
36 july 2 :: vol 28 no 44 :: 2014 NURSING STANDARD Downloaded from RCNi.com by ${individualUser.displayName} on Nov 20, 2015. For personal use only. No other uses without permission. Copyright © 2015 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
majority of the public that the NHS should be entrusted with healthcare professionals to lead and steward it. Politicians must stop using our NHS as a political football. Designing health policies to win votes is despicable. The interests of the patients must always come first. This is our party policy, but successive governments have undermined this principle by supporting market-driven reforms that sideline professional ethics and leadership in favour of business management principles. The continued privatisation of the NHS will make successful clinical leadership less likely, not more likely. Clive Peedell, co-leader, National Health Action Party, www.nhap.org
COMMISSIONERS NEED TO BE SET FREE FROM BUREAUCRACY AND DIKTATS I agree with Helen Evans (Letters June 25) that it is absurd to be talking of expanding local, cottage hospitals and for more care to be provided in the community without the appropriate financing and planned restructuring of services and health and social care staff. But I am heartened that clinical commissioning groups run by local GPs can react locally to health problems. They know their neighbourhoods, patients and local issues, and are in a unique position to spend their funds wisely and sensibly. Commissioners need to be unleashed from government bureaucracy and diktats from on high, and given some discretion about awarding contracts, not mandated to give the job to the cheapest tender or forced to privatise services. David Weaver, by email
CONTRIBUTIONS ARE WELCOMED ON HOW TO PREVENT DEMENTIA The International Longevity Centre – UK, Alzheimer’s Research UK and Improving Care are inviting practitioners from the field of public health and dementia to discuss dementia risk reduction. A new paper, ‘Preventing dementia: a provocation. How can we do more to
prevent dementia, save lives and reduce avoidable costs?’, is being launched at the Royal Society of Medicine in London on Monday July 14 from 2pm to 4.30pm. There will be presentations from the authors of the report, including former government special adviser Kieran Brett and former minister Phil Hope, whose work included the development of the National Dementia Strategy. We are keen to stimulate debate and discussion about how we could tackle dementia risk factors and the potential economic, health and societal benefits of dementia risk reduction. The paper identifies a number of risk factors for dementia that are amenable to intervention and have modelled the impact of interventions for their reduction. If you would like to attend, please contact events@ilcuk. org.uk or call 0207 340 0440. Baroness Sally Greengross, president and chief executive, International Longevity Centre – UK, London
WORK OF STAFF IN THE INDEPENDENT SECTOR IS OFTEN OVERLOOKED I am concerned about the heavy focus in healthcare coverage on NHS nursing, nurse specialisms and, above all, pay and conditions. Those of us who work in the independent sector do a vital job, but are often overlooked. There is little support for us and not much is published about our work, learning needs, training or conditions. I was recently in outpatients for an appointment. On admission, my husband let slip that I was a nurse. The staff nurse, on learning I worked in a nursing home, said: ‘Oh well, that’s an easy life, isn’t it?’ Well, perhaps he would like to try looking after a large number of very sick people with the aid of only two care assistants. People do not go into nursing homes for a gentle rest before they die. Most are admitted with a range of complex clinical issues that require skilled nursing care. Liz Ledger, by email
TWEETS OF THE WEEK Leave GP reviews and compare local services here http://bddy. me/1iMxEWD @NHSChoices
Mary Seacole Memorial Statue Appeal newsletter is now out! tinyurl.com/nxa485w @seacolestatue
Sugar reduction: responding to the challenge. Check out PHE’s report http://bit.ly/1mCbtSC #PHPWeek @VivJBennett
One chance to get it right: how health and care organisations should care for people in the last days of their life http://ow.ly/yt9AQ @DHgovuk
Wish people realised that anyone can develop a mental illness – it’s not them + us & people can have help > improve & recover #ChangingMinds @AlysColeKing
@MidwivesRCM Thrilled 2 have a place to study midwifery! After 8 years as RN in hospice care, use my skills and grow and learn @kittybkaty
Story of mental health nursing in a bygone age http://bit.ly/1nL0AM4 #MentalHealth #Nursing #Nurses @MJHartley2013
New network aims to deliver restraint-free services: tinyurl. com/ppbccn6 @mhtodaymag
Follow Nursing Standard @NScomment and join the #NScomment chat on Thursdays at 12.30pm
NURSING STANDARD july 2 :: vol 28 no 44 :: 2014 37 Downloaded from RCNi.com by ${individualUser.displayName} on Nov 20, 2015. For personal use only. No other uses without permission. Copyright © 2015 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
We welcome all readers’ letters, but reserve the right to edit them or withhold names and addresses. Please email: [email protected]
Please keep letters to a maximum of 150 words, and include your full name, address and a daytime telephone number
In the face of more budget cuts, nurses face uphill struggle to secure fair pay Delegates at last month’s RCN congress in Liverpool sent out a clear message that the NHS should remain free at the point of delivery (News June 25). A resolution calling for a fixed fee of £10 to be introduced for GP appointments was rejected by 91 per cent of delegates. Speakers said that introducing a charge could deter many people from seeking medical attention and be another nail in the coffin of the NHS. The NHS has generally come out well on access to treatment, although there has been some recent slippage with outpatient waiting lists, delays in emergency departments and getting appointments with GPs. Harsh choices will have to be made as further budget cuts are in the pipeline, and there will need to be a tighter rationing of care, treatment and expensive medication. In this stark scenario of rationing and cutbacks, the campaign for safe staffing levels and pay rises for nurses, healthcare assistants and care workers is going to be even more of an uphill struggle. Bridget Ryan, by email
THE GAP IS WIDENING BETWEEN FRONT LINE STAFF AND MANAGERS Nurses and managers are far from being ‘all in it together’ (Analysis June 25). Senior managers’ pay increased on average by 6.1 per cent in the past two years, while nurses’ pay increased by just 1.6 per cent. With those on lower pay bands receiving pennies and higher paid managers getting a sizeable year-on-year increase, the disparity between the front line staff and managers is getting wider. There is also the issue of bonuses, benefits, expenses and perks such as company cars and mileage allowances.
I am shocked to read that two trust chief executives each received bonuses last year of £40,000. This is obscene. Sally Harding, by email
OUR NHS IS A WORLD LEADER, BUT IT COULD DO MORE ON PREVENTION I am heartened that a recent survey undertaken by the American-based Commonwealth Fund (www. commonwealthfund.org) revealed that the NHS is one the world’s best healthcare systems. The United States ranks last overall on measures of health system quality, efficiency, access to care, equity and healthy lives. This is despite having the most expensive healthcare system of the 11 western countries surveyed. Having worked in the US, and with family living in New York State, I have seen the best and the worst of health care in the US and in England. In the US, there is a greater emphasis on preventive healthcare and medicine, but only for those able to afford health insurance. The NHS in England is
good at critical care, looking after those who are poorly, and there is generally good access to primary care. I would like the NHS to focus more on the prevention of disease and ill-health, on helping improve quality of life and health, and cutting waste and bureaucracy. The administration costs in the US are particularly high, but much of this is to do with billing for services and medication. Christine Clark, by email
DESIGNING HEALTH POLICIES TO WIN VOTES IS DESPICABLE BEHAVIOUR In a recent survey, three quarters of the respondents said they believe that key health policies are shaped primarily to win votes (online news digest June 23). They say the political parties design health policy to ‘score points at the despatch box’ rather than protect and improve the NHS. Two thirds of the respondents want politicians to have no say in the running of the health service. The National Health Action Party agrees with the overwhelming
36 july 2 :: vol 28 no 44 :: 2014 NURSING STANDARD Downloaded from RCNi.com by ${individualUser.displayName} on Nov 20, 2015. For personal use only. No other uses without permission. Copyright © 2015 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
majority of the public that the NHS should be entrusted with healthcare professionals to lead and steward it. Politicians must stop using our NHS as a political football. Designing health policies to win votes is despicable. The interests of the patients must always come first. This is our party policy, but successive governments have undermined this principle by supporting market-driven reforms that sideline professional ethics and leadership in favour of business management principles. The continued privatisation of the NHS will make successful clinical leadership less likely, not more likely. Clive Peedell, co-leader, National Health Action Party, www.nhap.org
COMMISSIONERS NEED TO BE SET FREE FROM BUREAUCRACY AND DIKTATS I agree with Helen Evans (Letters June 25) that it is absurd to be talking of expanding local, cottage hospitals and for more care to be provided in the community without the appropriate financing and planned restructuring of services and health and social care staff. But I am heartened that clinical commissioning groups run by local GPs can react locally to health problems. They know their neighbourhoods, patients and local issues, and are in a unique position to spend their funds wisely and sensibly. Commissioners need to be unleashed from government bureaucracy and diktats from on high, and given some discretion about awarding contracts, not mandated to give the job to the cheapest tender or forced to privatise services. David Weaver, by email
CONTRIBUTIONS ARE WELCOMED ON HOW TO PREVENT DEMENTIA The International Longevity Centre – UK, Alzheimer’s Research UK and Improving Care are inviting practitioners from the field of public health and dementia to discuss dementia risk reduction. A new paper, ‘Preventing dementia: a provocation. How can we do more to
prevent dementia, save lives and reduce avoidable costs?’, is being launched at the Royal Society of Medicine in London on Monday July 14 from 2pm to 4.30pm. There will be presentations from the authors of the report, including former government special adviser Kieran Brett and former minister Phil Hope, whose work included the development of the National Dementia Strategy. We are keen to stimulate debate and discussion about how we could tackle dementia risk factors and the potential economic, health and societal benefits of dementia risk reduction. The paper identifies a number of risk factors for dementia that are amenable to intervention and have modelled the impact of interventions for their reduction. If you would like to attend, please contact events@ilcuk. org.uk or call 0207 340 0440. Baroness Sally Greengross, president and chief executive, International Longevity Centre – UK, London
WORK OF STAFF IN THE INDEPENDENT SECTOR IS OFTEN OVERLOOKED I am concerned about the heavy focus in healthcare coverage on NHS nursing, nurse specialisms and, above all, pay and conditions. Those of us who work in the independent sector do a vital job, but are often overlooked. There is little support for us and not much is published about our work, learning needs, training or conditions. I was recently in outpatients for an appointment. On admission, my husband let slip that I was a nurse. The staff nurse, on learning I worked in a nursing home, said: ‘Oh well, that’s an easy life, isn’t it?’ Well, perhaps he would like to try looking after a large number of very sick people with the aid of only two care assistants. People do not go into nursing homes for a gentle rest before they die. Most are admitted with a range of complex clinical issues that require skilled nursing care. Liz Ledger, by email
TWEETS OF THE WEEK Leave GP reviews and compare local services here http://bddy. me/1iMxEWD @NHSChoices
Mary Seacole Memorial Statue Appeal newsletter is now out! tinyurl.com/nxa485w @seacolestatue
Sugar reduction: responding to the challenge. Check out PHE’s report http://bit.ly/1mCbtSC #PHPWeek @VivJBennett
One chance to get it right: how health and care organisations should care for people in the last days of their life http://ow.ly/yt9AQ @DHgovuk
Wish people realised that anyone can develop a mental illness – it’s not them + us & people can have help > improve & recover #ChangingMinds @AlysColeKing
@MidwivesRCM Thrilled 2 have a place to study midwifery! After 8 years as RN in hospice care, use my skills and grow and learn @kittybkaty
Story of mental health nursing in a bygone age http://bit.ly/1nL0AM4 #MentalHealth #Nursing #Nurses @MJHartley2013
New network aims to deliver restraint-free services: tinyurl. com/ppbccn6 @mhtodaymag
Follow Nursing Standard @NScomment and join the #NScomment chat on Thursdays at 12.30pm
NURSING STANDARD july 2 :: vol 28 no 44 :: 2014 37 Downloaded from RCNi.com by ${individualUser.displayName} on Nov 20, 2015. For personal use only. No other uses without permission. Copyright © 2015 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
