Patient Safety at Risk Under New Government Proposals
London, UK (PRWEB UK) 17 November 2015 -- A Government consultation due to close today, has proposed that staffing shortages in wards could be dealt with by supplying non-clinical staff instead of suitably qualified nurses.
The changes, which are due to come into force on Monday 23 November 2015, also propose that nurses could be moved during their shifts to wards where they are under-qualified to work. This proposal could see nurses being moved to A&E or even to High Dependency Units without the necessary skillset to safely look after their patients.
The changes would also put the safety of nurses in jeopardy, in the event that they are moved to a ward for which they do not have the necessary experience and qualifications. These proposed changes could put nurse’s livelihoods at risk as they could lose their NMC pin numbers and be involved in negligence claims.
After the Francis Report was published in 2013, following the Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust investigation, mandatory minimum staffing levels for all hospitals were established by the Government to ensure patient safety. The current proposals could see staffing levels falling below the minimum threshold against these regulations.
The Government has also suggested that hospitals will not be required to fill shifts during short-term understaffing periods, a move that could see patients put at risk if there are not enough nurses on a ward.
The proposals are part of a package of changes that are aimed at reducing the amount of money that agencies can pay NHS agency workers in the event of unplanned staff shortages.
Initial polling data from one of the leading nursing agencies in the UK indicates that over 70% of nurses would seek employment outside of the NHS as a result of the proposed caps. The changes could lead to a staffing crisis as agency workers are forced to look to the private sector for a feasible living wage to support themselves.
We have a leading nursing agency, a nursing consultant and nurses available for comment.
To view the full proposal, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nursing-agency-rules
Donnay Clancy, Curzon PR, http://www.curzonpr.com, +44 2036374831 Ext: 201, [email protected]
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