The nursing staff will need all our support

AMIDST the challenges of the Covid-19 crisis, it has been heartening to see so many selfless nurses in Wales taking the lead as they battle this pandemic from the frontline.

I know we are all thankful to the experienced, knowledgeable nurses and other clinicians who are supporting both their colleagues and coronavirus patients at this time.

Nurses naturally want to play their part in trying to combat the outbreak and in response to government plans to boost the nursing workforce our members are coming out of retirement, students interrupting their studies, and nursing staff deploying from non-clinical settings, all to support the frontline in the battle against Covid-19.

Whilst we are encouraged by this response – as by strengthening the workforce we have a greater chance of overcoming this virus – it is impossible to deny that insufficient investment in the nursing workforce over the last decade has made it difficult to do this easily.

Now, more than ever, it is essential that every health board in Wales has infection prevention and control nurses working at a senior level and reporting to the board.

In particular the office of the Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) for Wales must have a full-time infection prevention nurse to ensure the Welsh Government receives senior expert nursing advice.

The fight against Covid-19 is demonstrating just how vital it is for leadership at every level, as nurses across the workforce lead by example in one of the greatest challenges of their nursing career.

Nurses across the country are rising to the challenge and taking the lead in a variety of ways, for example consultant nurses and senior infection specialists are helping to set up field hospitals for Coronavirus patients.

And in these difficult times when people are being advised not to go to hospitals, community nurses are stepping up as leaders advocating for patients, and providing care and reassurance to individuals in their homes, care homes, and communities.

Our members have been unstinting in their dedication and professionalism to protect the health and wellbeing of the population of Wales, but they have serious concerns regarding the lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) and Covid-19 testing for staff in the health and care workforce.

There have been increasing reports of insufficient PPE available to frontline staff in hospitals, care homes and community nursing teams.

Our members are telling us that face masks, eye protection and hand sanitisers are hard to come by and I am extremely concerned that some NHS and social care employers are not fulfilling the statutory obligations on PPE.

It is simply unacceptable that our nursing staff are turning up for work every day to face this pandemic head-on yet lack access to basic health and safety equipment in order to do so.

I have therefore demanded stronger action from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to intervene and to issue instructions to all providers of care in Wales where patients are being treated for, or are suspected of, Covid-19 to ensure nursing staff are adequately protected.

Nursing staff across the country are working tirelessly to deal with this crisis and deserve total clarity on how the Welsh Government and their workplaces are protecting them from the virus.

Priority Covid-19 testing for health and social care workers is an absolute must. Our members need this in order to do their job while keeping themselves, their families and their patients safe.

Testing for frontline staff is being introduced but the rollout is simply too slow and RCN Wales is urging the Welsh Government to increase the testing capacity as a matter of priority.

Society needs our nurses now more than ever and we encourage you to join the nation in clapping for our carers every Thursday at 8pm to show our appreciation for the risks they are taking every day to care for patients at this time.

RCN Wales is here to ensure that the nursing workforce of Wales is supported, and we look to you, the public, to help by following the most up-to-date guidelines and playing your part in the fight against Covid-19.

■ Helen Whyley is the director of the Royal College of Nursing in Wales