Nursing notes

I symPAthIse with the letter-writer who described the resentment Nhs nurses feel at higher-paid agency staff doing the same work as them. But there is another side to the coin.

I am 67 and have been a nurse for 26 years. For the past six years I have worked for the Nhs, via an agency, as a community nurse.

I don’t have a permanent position because, for family reasons, it is more sensible for me to work two or three days a week when I’m available.

Until recently, this worked well for both me and my team.

Agency nurse pay should have been capped long ago and I do feel quite guilty that I am paid more than my permanent staff counterpart. But I have many skills that newly qualified nurses have yet to acquire, I enjoy teaching and am respected by the multi-disciplinary team in our area.

Last year, I was told there would be no further shifts, as the community budget was greatly overspent. the staff and patients I had worked with were dismayed. however, I realise the budget has to be managed.

my colleagues were expected to cope with the already oversubscribed workload, moving patient visits from one day to another and confusing the elderly and housebound.

some visit requests had to be triaged stringently, upsetting patients and staff.

I agree with your correspondent that a lot of Nhs cash is unwisely spent. But in this financial climate, who can blame qualified younger people for going where the money is?

many permanent staff had been topping up their poor pay by picking up agency shifts. they are now looking elsewhere for work and the Nhs is likely to lose them altogether.

Name and address supplied.