Vote: General Election 2010. Nursing Counts
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Nursing Counts
With an average of more than 1,800 nurses and health care assistants in each constituency there's no doubt that nursing counts
Our Priorities
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Standing up for staff who speak out
Nurses and healthcare staff need to be confident that their concerns over failures in patient care will be heard. All healthcare organisations should be required to hold a register of staff concerns that must be reported to their board regularly and made available to the public
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Safer staffing levels
To ensure nurses and other healthcare staff have the time needed to give patients the dignified care they deserve, there must be the right number and right balance of nursing staff on the wards. The RCN wants to see regular staffing reviews, which are then reported to trusts boards, to guarantee safe staffing numbers and the highest level of quality care for patients.
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Give nurses the time to train
Quality patient care needs healthcare workers who are continually trained to the highest level. All too often training budgets are under pressure or staff have to learn in their own time. Improved training and regulation for healthcare assistants and support workers must be a priority. The RCN is calling for the regulation of healthcare assistants and for every nurse and healthcare worker to have protected training time as part of their continuous professional development.
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Protect the nation's health
Specific resources need to be targeted at reducing health inequalities by providing public health information, tackling the root causes of ill health and promoting healthy lifestyles, with a particular focus on smoking, obesity and alcohol abuse. The RCN is calling for a single mandatory code to better regulate the drinks industry to minimise the dangers and healthcare costs associated with excessive drinking.
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Improve care for those with long term conditions
Improve care for patients with long-term conditions by supporting and investing in specialist nurses. The RCN is calling for every patient with a long term condition to have guaranteed access to specialist nursing care.
Tweet This Sustain health care investment
In order to ensure a first class health care system that delivers the highest level of care to patients, there needs to be sustained investment in services, staff and facilities. The RCN is calling for current levels of health care spending to be maintained in order to ensure patients continue to receive the care they deserve.
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“We must tell PPCs what our priorities are now, before it’s too late”
This week, we welcomed a new addition to the ‘Nursing counts’ website: you can now email your local Prospective Parliamentary Candidates and make a real difference where you live. Now, even though health is devolved in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, this election still poses an invaluable opportunity to tell politicians what we want to see happen.
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If they want our votes, they need to listen to our voice
Before a person becomes a Member of Parliament they must first gain the support of their local party and become their Prospective Parliamentary Candidate (PPC). By now there will be very few constituencies that do not have PPCs from the major parties selected and out on the doorstep campaigning.
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“Whatever you want to tell us about nursing, we want to hear it”
Since this campaign began just five short weeks ago, almost one thousand of you have got in touch via the new website to tell us your stories from the front line. You’ve shared your experiences, opinions and thoughts; you’ve told us what works in our healthcare system, and what doesn’t, what’s good and what’s not so good.
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“I love the work I do because I know I’m making a difference…”
I am a nurse in a small specialist team that works with young people who are experiencing difficulties with drugs or alcohol and may have an underlying mental health problem. In reality that means that our clients are very complex (what adolescent isn’t?). Maintaining their engagement takes patience and a range of skills based on building rapport and providing care.
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Stories from the front line…
If you’ve already signed up to this campaign, you’ll have received an email from Sandra James, the RCN’s Chair of Council. The email asks that you send in your stories, opinions and experiences from the front line. Stories such as these are the best way of getting the message across to all those seeking to be a future member of Parliament.
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