News
Managers are recruiting too few senior practitioners Agency and bank staff are being hired to make up for shortfalls in numbers of band 5 nurses
Study of treatments for cardiac arrest named trial of the year A CLINICAL trial of the effectiveness of mechanical versus manual chest compression for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest has been named Trial of the Year. The trial was conducted by Warwick Medical School in partnership with the University of Surrey and four UK ambulance services. It was named Trial of the Year for 2014 by the Society for Clinical Trials at its 36th annual meeting last month. Trial leader Gavin Perkins said: ‘When someone suffers a cardiac arrest, it is vital that they receive chest compressions of sufficient depth and rate. ‘Maintaining high quality chest compressions during out-of-hospital resuscitation is difficult because there may be issues with patient access or working on a patient in a moving vehicle. ‘Mechanical compression devices have been developed to automate and potentially improve this resuscitation process, but there is limited evidence 6
June 2015 | Volume 23 | Number 3
He found that EDs are being funded for more band 5 and 6 nurse posts than they can fill, and more than they need based on patient acuity. In contrast, EDs are not being funded for sufficient senior nurses according to estimates based on need. These figures mean there is a 15% gap between the budgeted and actual numbers of band 7 staff. Shortfall Mr Hurst also found a 48% shortfall between budgeted and actual WTE staff in band 4 assistant practitioner
showing that these devices are beneficial. This is why we set up this trial.’ Find out more A paper about the award-winning trial can be accessed at tinyurl.com/lwgwvfj Alamy
By Jennifer Sprinks @JenniferSprinks EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT (ED) managers are budgeting for more band 5 and 6 nurses than they can recruit, but are failing to allocate sufficient funds for band 7 and 8 nurses. This is the conclusion of independent researcher and analyst Keith Hurst after examining staffing levels in EDs at 33 trusts and boards in England and Scotland. Using a patient acuity tool for emergency care settings, Mr Hurst assessed budgeted, actual and recommended numbers of whole-time equivalent (WTE) nurses.
Out-of-hospital chest compressions can be difficult
Trusts must redouble their efforts to meet rising demand NHS FOUNDATION trusts (FTs) are treating more urgently ill people than ever before, according to an analysis by health service regulator Monitor.
posts, although the numbers of staff in bands 1, 2 and 3 posts exceeded budgets. These findings were presented by RCN head of policy Howard Catton at a nurse staffing conference in London. Mr Catton said: ‘The figures suggest that there are challenges, not just in terms of recruiting people in the right numbers, but also in getting the right skill mix. ‘In an attempt to get the right numbers of staff, there could be a worrying dilution of skill mix.’ Mr Catton also suggested that staff may be recruited to replace staff at more senior grades. Research shows that ED managers have difficulties in recruiting staff, particularly band 5s, of whom there is an average shortfall of 23%. Mr Catton said that managers are trying to plug the band 5 gap with temporary staff, such as agency or bank nurses. Research also shows that the number of band 8 nurses should be doubled to hit recommended levels.
However, increased demand, an over-reliance on expensive agency staff and the need to make cost savings is putting trusts under exceptional pressure. The analysis found that FTs treated a record-breaking 10.7 million emergency inpatients between April 2014 and March 2015, representing a 574,000 increase on the previous year. It also found a significant increase in the treatment of non-emergency patients. The 152 FTs, which represent most NHS trusts, missed a number of national waiting-time targets for emergency care, routine operations and some cancer treatments for the entire year. In addition, the sector ended 2014/15 in deficit for the first time, by almost £350 million. FTs have indicated to Monitor that 2015/16 is likely to be even tougher. Monitor chief executive David Bennett said that the last financial year has been ‘exceptionally challenging’ for the FT sector, and the current one will be too. The sector needs to ‘redouble efforts’ to improve efficiency to ensure patients receive the services they need, he said. ‘There is scope for more to be done without compromising patient care.’ EMERGENCY NURSE
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Managers are recruiting too few senior practitioners Agency and bank staff are being hired to make up for shortfalls in numbers of band 5 nurses
Study of treatments for cardiac arrest named trial of the year A CLINICAL trial of the effectiveness of mechanical versus manual chest compression for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest has been named Trial of the Year. The trial was conducted by Warwick Medical School in partnership with the University of Surrey and four UK ambulance services. It was named Trial of the Year for 2014 by the Society for Clinical Trials at its 36th annual meeting last month. Trial leader Gavin Perkins said: ‘When someone suffers a cardiac arrest, it is vital that they receive chest compressions of sufficient depth and rate. ‘Maintaining high quality chest compressions during out-of-hospital resuscitation is difficult because there may be issues with patient access or working on a patient in a moving vehicle. ‘Mechanical compression devices have been developed to automate and potentially improve this resuscitation process, but there is limited evidence 6
June 2015 | Volume 23 | Number 3
He found that EDs are being funded for more band 5 and 6 nurse posts than they can fill, and more than they need based on patient acuity. In contrast, EDs are not being funded for sufficient senior nurses according to estimates based on need. These figures mean there is a 15% gap between the budgeted and actual numbers of band 7 staff. Shortfall Mr Hurst also found a 48% shortfall between budgeted and actual WTE staff in band 4 assistant practitioner
showing that these devices are beneficial. This is why we set up this trial.’ Find out more A paper about the award-winning trial can be accessed at tinyurl.com/lwgwvfj Alamy
By Jennifer Sprinks @JenniferSprinks EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT (ED) managers are budgeting for more band 5 and 6 nurses than they can recruit, but are failing to allocate sufficient funds for band 7 and 8 nurses. This is the conclusion of independent researcher and analyst Keith Hurst after examining staffing levels in EDs at 33 trusts and boards in England and Scotland. Using a patient acuity tool for emergency care settings, Mr Hurst assessed budgeted, actual and recommended numbers of whole-time equivalent (WTE) nurses.
Out-of-hospital chest compressions can be difficult
Trusts must redouble their efforts to meet rising demand NHS FOUNDATION trusts (FTs) are treating more urgently ill people than ever before, according to an analysis by health service regulator Monitor.
posts, although the numbers of staff in bands 1, 2 and 3 posts exceeded budgets. These findings were presented by RCN head of policy Howard Catton at a nurse staffing conference in London. Mr Catton said: ‘The figures suggest that there are challenges, not just in terms of recruiting people in the right numbers, but also in getting the right skill mix. ‘In an attempt to get the right numbers of staff, there could be a worrying dilution of skill mix.’ Mr Catton also suggested that staff may be recruited to replace staff at more senior grades. Research shows that ED managers have difficulties in recruiting staff, particularly band 5s, of whom there is an average shortfall of 23%. Mr Catton said that managers are trying to plug the band 5 gap with temporary staff, such as agency or bank nurses. Research also shows that the number of band 8 nurses should be doubled to hit recommended levels.
However, increased demand, an over-reliance on expensive agency staff and the need to make cost savings is putting trusts under exceptional pressure. The analysis found that FTs treated a record-breaking 10.7 million emergency inpatients between April 2014 and March 2015, representing a 574,000 increase on the previous year. It also found a significant increase in the treatment of non-emergency patients. The 152 FTs, which represent most NHS trusts, missed a number of national waiting-time targets for emergency care, routine operations and some cancer treatments for the entire year. In addition, the sector ended 2014/15 in deficit for the first time, by almost £350 million. FTs have indicated to Monitor that 2015/16 is likely to be even tougher. Monitor chief executive David Bennett said that the last financial year has been ‘exceptionally challenging’ for the FT sector, and the current one will be too. The sector needs to ‘redouble efforts’ to improve efficiency to ensure patients receive the services they need, he said. ‘There is scope for more to be done without compromising patient care.’ EMERGENCY NURSE
Downloaded from RCNi.com by ${individualUser.displayName} on Nov 22, 2015. For personal use only. No other uses without permission. Copyright © 2015 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
