Inside Health
Health staff and the public should ask for more, writes Theresa Fyffe
Evidence shows that having the right number of nursing staff with the right skills and knowledge results in better outcomes for patients.
That’s why, at its annual Congress earlier this year, the RCN called for legislation in each country of the UK to address staffing for safe and effective care. Wales led the way with the Nurse Staffing Levels (Wales) Act 2016. It was the first country in Europe to introduce this kind of legislation.
In May, the Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Bill was introduced to the Scottish Parliament. This is a chance to get staffing for safe and effective care right in nursing. The Bill is an opportunity for change, and it’s one that cannot be missed.
This autumn, the Royal College of Nursing in Scotland is asking for more for nursing teams so that patients receive safe, high quality care.
The recent NHS70 celebrations and debate showed that people want to be involved in the future of their health and care services, and they want these to be the best they can be. People want to receive the best care; they want their loved-ones to receive the best care.
There is already an expectation that any care will be safe and high quality. However, members of the public need to make their voices heard loud and clear to make sure that their expectations are met in reality.
As a profession, nursing knows that current workforce pressures, and the unprecedented demands on health and care services, mean that there are instances where care falls below the high standards expected.
Last year we asked RCN members about the staffing levels on their last shift. Over 3,000 members spoke out with more than half, 51 per cent, saying their shift fell short of planned staffing levels and 53 per cent saying care was compromised as a result; 54 per cent reported that they didn’t have enough time to provide the level of care they would like.
It is no wonder when you consider that Scotland’s NHS has a nursing vacancy rate of 5.3 per cent, meaning that over 3,300 WTE posts are unfilled. Across the UK that figure rises to an astounding 40,000 WTE posts.
The reality of these figures means that nurses and health care support workers – in hospitals, community teams and nursing homes –are struggling, day in and day out, to care for patients in the way they would like. It is demoralising for nursing staff and distressing for patients and their families.
As one nurse working in Scotland put it in the 2017 RCN survey on staffing “I started nursing to look after and care for people, but poor staffing levels mean that I struggle to give the best care. Most days I feel low and completely demoralised. I would like to believe things can change but feel this may never happen.”
Sadly, this echoes what I hear each week from frontline nursing staff across Scotland.
Nursing teams know the value of safe, high quality care for patients; the positive impact of nursing with dignity and respect on patient outcomes, and the difference which having the time to speak to a patient’s loved ones makes.
The RCN in Scotland is saying that it’s time for change, and asking the profession and the public to stand with us as we ask for more.
You can show your support for the RCN’S campaign in Scotland at www.rcn.org.uk/ askformore and on Twitter by following @ RCNSCOT #askformore l Theresa Fyffe is Scotland director of the Royal College of Nursing