Letters

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Hand to mouth existence is forcing many of us out of the profession Living in poverty affects every aspect of people’s lives – their health, wellbeing and quality of life. Now, as Sally Gillen points out (Analysis November 13), the real-term salary cuts of recent years are taking a heavy toll on NHS staff. More nurses, healthcare assistants and  students are living hand to mouth. It is sad  to hear of nurses living on a diet of baked  beans and rice, with no heating, rationed  toilet paper, debts and payday loans. The prices of staples such as food,  heating, transport and accommodation  continue to rise, and yet our salaries   are stagnant.  I know of one midwife who has  retrained as a reflexologist and a nurse  who is now doing very well as a painter  and decorator. But I love nursing and  would hate to leave the profession.  Julie Tallon, Eastleigh, Hampshire

SPECIAL PEOPLE JOIN NURSING, BUT OUR TALENTS ARE NOT APPRECIATED The Nurses in Poverty survey (News and Analysis November 13) struck a chord with me. I am a newly qualified single nurse working in a private nursing home. I live in rented accommodation and find it a struggle. I have had to take out payday loans, choose whether to eat or heat my flat, and sometimes have to depend on my parents. No wonder I am dispirited and my mental health is poor. I love being a nurse, but often feel disillusioned and underappreciated. It takes a special person to become a nurse and our talents are not appreciated. Name and address supplied

REFERRALS OF POOR RECORD-KEEPING GIVE THE PROBLEM DUE PROMINENCE Richard Evans (Letters November 13) asks why the Nursing and Midwifery Council should be involved in 36  november 20 :: vol 28 no 12 :: 2013 

investigating complaints about poor record-keeping. He says these should be referred back to employers. But employers are required to investigate complaints fully and to deal with them, where appropriate, before an NMC referral. To question whether the NMC has a role, however, seems to imply that deficiencies in record-keeping are of lesser importance than those in other aspects of practice. Many of the recent well-documented reports into care failings suggest otherwise. The requirement for maintaining clear and accurate records is also a key element of the code against which our practice is measured. In cases where registered professionals are considered not to have upheld a standard, the NMC has a duty to hold them to account and must do so to protect the public. There is much we can do to reduce referrals related to this important aspect of care delivery. Employers need to take greater responsibility for record-keeping. They need to address the range of

factors that make the incidence of poor record-keeping more likely, notably the lack of training and resources, staff shortages, work duplication and multiple data entry systems. Jane Beach, professional officer for regulation, Unite health sector

‘EXPERTS BY EXPERIENCE’ WILL HELP TO TRANSFORM ADULT SOCIAL CARE It is encouraging to see such strong support for my initial proposals to transform the way the Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates adult social care services in England (Letters November 13). As chief inspector of adult social care, I will not be delivering this by myself. I would like to involve everyone right across the sector to make this a reality. Your correspondent Louise Owen is right to question the training of our inspectors. One of my priorities is to ensure that the CQC has a specialist workforce for the adult social care sector. Supported by objective

NURSING STANDARD

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Hand to mouth existence is forcing many of us out of the profession.

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