nurses, and the claims that ‘they are not out there’. The solution is to increase the training places and stop raiding the resources of other countries. We are turning applicants away from nursing courses, as there are insufficient training places. This is a travesty. The Welsh bill states: ‘Investing in the best care produces the best outcome and experience for the patient. It is also the most cost-effective use of public money.’ We must all support this Welsh bill as it will lead the way for the three other UK countries. Susan Osborne CBE, chair, Safe Staffing Alliance

WE DO NOT NEED MANAGERS TO TELL US WHERE THE PROBLEMS LIE I read with interest editor Graham Scott’s editorial, ‘Plenty of managers, but where are the leaders?’ (October 22), and could not agree more. A vast amount of money is spent on paying managers inflated salaries to inform us of where we are failing. But it is glaringly obvious where the problems lie – as well as what should be the solutions. We need to employ more nurses and front line staff who are at the heart of nursing care. We should also slash the number of managers and auditors. It is so sad and disheartening that, through no fault of our own, we are unable to carry out our job properly. How can we be expected to work efficiently without adequate resources? Yet, as nurses, we are powerless to improve the situation. There is nothing better than a strong team with an effective leader who knows the skill mix of the team and can delegate accordingly. This is what we should be aiming for. Marie J Rowe, Lymm, Cheshire

HELPING A POLISH NURSE FRUSTRATED BY DELAYS IN HER NMC REGISTRATION Polish nurse Agnieszka Wroblewska came to the UK a year ago and has worked for the past nine months as a support worker while trying to gain Nursing and Midwifery Council

(NMC) registration to work as a nurse. She says she feels she is banging her head against a brick wall (Letters October 29). I am assuming that her application to the NMC is complete – that she has provided evidence of her qualifications in Poland leading to automatic recognition and has paid the £110 charge for evaluation of her application pack. Alternatively, she may have needed to provide a transcript of her training from her training institution showing a full record of the entire theory and practice hours completed during her training. If her application is complete and she has paid the fee, I can well understand her frustration with this long delay. I recommend that she joins a union and secures the support of a union rep to help speed things up. If she were to join the RCN as a health practitioner member, her membership fee could be as little as £4.10 a month. Helen Evans, by email

WITH NMC DELAYS, THE BEST WAY TO RESPOND IS TO MAKE A COMPLAINT My heart bleeds for Polish nurse Agnieszka Wroblewska (Letters October 29), who is experiencing a long delay in obtaining her registration from the NMC. I have recently advised a Greek nurse in a similar position. The first thing to do is to make a formal complaint to the NMC. This can be emailed to complaints@ nmc-uk.org or made in writing to The Complaints Manager, NMC, 23 Portland Place, London W1B 1PZ. Agnieszka will need to give the details and dates of her application, her reference numbers, why she thinks the delay is unacceptable and the effect being unable to work is having on her career, economic situation and emotional wellbeing. The NMC will acknowledge the formal complaint, ask a senior manager to consider the complaint and aim to respond within 20 working days. Naomi Lyth, by email

TWEETS OF THE WEEK 12-hour shifts means the patient does not continuously see unfamiliar faces during the day and builds rapport @ehbee_

12.5-hr shifts enable excellent continuation of care, but nurses must be able to #recharge #fairoffduty #NScomment @LNeighbour

Also many staff on breadline, need to have those extra days off to bank #payfreeze couldn’t if had to do short shifts @lillybubs

I found days off when working 12hr shifts were recovery days not quality time off @Kiki19312

Must look after yourself on 12-hour shifts. So easy to forget though @KatrinaBannigan

Depends on area that you are in. I have found some areas more physically exhausting than others @leannesiekiera

Working on a dementia ward 12.5 hours is physically and mentally tiring. 1 hour break not long enough either @TraceyShrimpton

In my trust nurses complaining about having heel pain since started 12.5 hours shift due to long standing @huzaifas04

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

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With NMC delays, the best way to respond is to make a complaint.

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