Royal College of Nursing

Vote: General Election 2010. Nursing Counts

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As the Nursing counts campaign draws to a close, this short video shows just how much has been achieved:

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Specialist Nurses: A Unique Lifeline

Watch our new video about the importance of specialist nurses for patients with long-term conditions. Then use the form below to share this video with everyone you know who is concerned about UK health.

 

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Subject:	Support specialist nurses
Message:	Hello, I just watched an incredible video about the importance of specialist nurses in the UK. Take a look: http://generalelection.rcn.org.uk/specialistnurses Specialist nurses are essential to the National Health Service. They provide a unique lifeline to patients with long-term conditions, and they create huge savings for the NHS through reduced complications and fewer hospital re-admissions. But specialist nursing roles were cut during the deficits crisis in 2006, and they could be cut again after the general election. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is working to make sure that doesn't happen -- but they need your help. Watch their video about specialist nurses, and then join me in signing on to the RCN's six priorities for UK health: http://generalelection.rcn.org.uk/specialistnurses Thanks!
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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.

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• 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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