Train nurses on wards

THE problem of staffing levels in the NHS is not just down to a lack of funds. Throwing money at it might help in the short term, but in the long term there will be no change.

I think a lot of the difficulties are down to changes in nurse training.

When I trained as an SRN in the Seventies, we did attend college, but most training was on the wards. Yes, student nurses were paid a pitiful amount for working long, hard hours, but by the time we qualified we were equipped to cope.

Qualified staff were assisted by the now defunct SENs, who had completed a two-year course, and nursing auxiliaries. We were all ready to roll up our sleeves — cleaning and making beds went hand in hand with more complex procedures.

I never felt less than professional. I might not have had a degree, but I had a college and practical-based education, and a qualification.

Perhaps the training of healthcare professionals needs to be reexamined. Instead of giving expensive student loans, we should put student nurses back on the wards — and pay tthem a living wage.

Then perhaps the staffing difficulties would be resolved. MELANIE SYNGER, Formby, Merseyside.