A new three-year strategy was published aimed at building a culture of compassionate care for nursing, midwifery, and care staff.
Source: Compassion in Practice: Nursing, midwifery and care staff – Our vision and strategy, NHS Commissioning Board
Links: Strategy | CB press release | DH press release | Labour Party press release | NHS Confederation press release | RCN press release | RCP press release | BBC report
Date: 2012-Dec
The report of an independent commission said that there were no shortcomings in nursing education that could be held directly responsible for poor standards of care or a decline in care standards. Nor was there any evidence that degree-level registration was damaging to patient care.
Source: Willis Commission on Nursing Education, Quality with Compassion: The future of nursing education, Royal College of Nursing
Links: Report | Summary | RCN press release | Times Higher Education report
Date: 2012-Nov
A think-tank report called for the introduction of 'modern' management practices for National Health Service staff, including rigorously selective recruitment processes; devolving clinical (and often financial) power and accountability to frontline staff; encouraging flexible working and team-based care; celebrating and rewarding excellence, and identifying and dealing with mediocrity and failure.
Source: Thomas Cawston, Andrew Haldenby, and Nick Seddon, Doctors and Nurses, Reform
Links: Report | Summary | BMA press release | Public Finance report
Date: 2012-Nov
An article examined the business case for ethnic diversity in the National Health Service. The distinctions between the business and moral cases were false, in that both had ethical reference points. However, the business case was difficult to translate to public sector institutions, and there were evidential problems with its adoption. The moral case was therefore the only one that had any long-term value for proponents of diversity.
Source: Nick Johns, Alison Green, and Martin Powell, 'Diversity in the British NHS: the business versus the "moral" case', Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: An International Journal, Volume 31 Issue 8
Links: Abstract
Date: 2012-Oct
The coalition government announced that medical revalidation – under which all doctors licensed with the General Medical Council (GMC) would have to show they were fit to practise – would start in December 2012. Revalidation would normally happen every 5 years. Doctors would also undergo annual appraisals based on the requirements of the GMC's core guidance on good medical practice.
Source: Written Ministerial Statement 19 October 2012, columns 39-40WS, House of Commons Hansard, TSO
Links: Hansard | DH press release | GMC press release | BMA press release | HPA press release | Labour Party press release | NHS Confederation press release | NHS Employers press release | RCGP press release | RCOG press release | RCP press release | BBC report | Guardian report
Date: 2012-Oct
The government responded to a report by a committee of MPs on education, training, and workforce planning in the National Health Service. It said that a 'great deal of progress' had recently been made in establishing a new system of education and training.
Source: Government Response to the House of Commons Health Select Committee First Report of Session 2012–13: Education, Training and Workforce Planning, Cm 8435, Department of Health, TSO
Links: Response | Hansard | CfWI press release
Notes: MPs report (May 2012)
Date: 2012-Sep
A report said that complaints about doctors had reached a record high, with patients more prepared to raise concerns about their treatment. The number of complaints to the General Medical Council (which oversees doctors' standards) increased by 23 per cent from 7,153 in 2010 to 8,781 in 2011 – continuing a rising trend seen since 2007.
Source: The State of Medical Education and Practice in the UK: 2012, General Medical Council
Links: Report | GMC press release | BMA press release | Labour Party press release | NHS Confederation press release
Date: 2012-Sep
An article examined the business case for ethnic diversity in the National Health Service. The distinctions between the business and moral cases were false, in that both had ethical reference points. However, the business case was difficult to translate into public sector institutions, and there were also evidential problems with its adoption. The moral case was the only one that had any long-term value for proponents of diversity.
Source: Nick Johns, Alison Green, and Martin Powell, 'Diversity in the British NHS: the business versus the "moral" case', Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: An International Journal, Volume 31 Issue 8
Links: Abstract
Date: 2012-Aug
A watchdog report highlighted failings 'at every level' in the operation and management of the Nursing and Midwifery Council – the regulatory body for the nursing and midwifery professions. As a result the Council had not discharged its prime duty to protect patients from harm.
Source: Strategic Review of the Nursing and Midwifery Council: Final Report, Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence
Links: Report | RCM press release | Hansard | RCN press release | Unite press release | BBC report | Telegraph report
Date: 2012-Jul
A report by a committee of MPs said that coalition government plans to reform education, training, and workforce planning in the National Health Service were unclear and lacked crucial detail.
Source: Education, Training and Workforce Planning, First Report (Session 2012-13), HC 6, House of Commons Health Select Committee, TSO
Links: Report | Oral and written evidence | CfWI press release | CSP press release | RCN press release | Public Finance report | Telegraph report
Date: 2012-May
An independent expert forum made a series of initial recommendations designed to improve the quality of nursing care. It said that nurses should be recruited for their caring nature and compassion, as well as their knowledge and skills. It also called for an increase in the number of staff who would be happy for their friends and family to be treated at the same place where they worked.
Source: Letter from Nursing and Care Quality Forum, 18 May 2012
Links: Letter | DH press release | Patients Association press release | RCN press release | BBC report
>Date: 2012-May
A report said that the Nursing and Midwifery Council (the body responsible for regulating nurses and midwives) was failing to carry out its duties due to institutional weakness.
Source: Strategic Review of the Nursing and Midwifery Council: Final Report, Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence
Links: Report | RCM press release | BBC report
Date: 2012-Apr
A report said that the vast majority of hospitals had inadequate basic nursing establishments on older people's wards, and unsatisfactory arrangements to provide additional skilled support when needed at short notice. A linked report called for the introduction of mandatory nurse-to-patient ratios.
Source: Nicky Hayes and Jane Ball, Safe Staffing for Older People's Wards, Royal College of Nursing | Mandatory Nurse Staffing Levels, Royal College of Nursing
Links: Report (1) | Report (2) | RCN press release | NHS Confederation press release | BBC report | Guardian report | Nursing Times report
>Date: 2012-Mar
Three official advisory bodies began consultation on proposals designed to establish a 'streamlined, transparent and responsive' system of regulation of healthcare professionals and (in England only) regulation of social workers.
Source: Regulation of Health Care Professionals/ Regulation of Social Care Professionals in England, Joint Consultation Paper LCCP 202/SLCDP 153/NILC 12 (2012), Law Commission/Scottish Law Commission/Northern Ireland Law Commission
Links: Consultation document | Summary | Community Care report
Date: 2012-Mar
The coalition government published a policy framework for a new approach to workforce planning and the education and training of the health workforce in England. There would be two central planks to the new system – Health Education England (HEE) and Local Education and Training Boards (LETBs). HEE would provide national leadership and oversight on strategic planning and development, and allocate resources. The LETBs would be the vehicle for providers and professionals to work with HEE to improve the quality of education and training outcomes, so that they met the needs of service providers, patients, and the public.
Source: Liberating the NHS: Developing the Healthcare Workforce – From design to delivery, Department of Health
Links: Framework | DH press release | People Management report
Date: 2012-Jan
The coalition government announced a series of measures designed to improve nursing care in hospitals in England. Nurses would be freed from 'non-essential paperwork and excessive bureaucracy' so that they could spend more time with patients. A new Nursing Quality Forum would look at how the best nursing practice could be spread throughout the National Health Service, and how nursing leadership on hospital wards could be strengthened. A new patient-led inspection regime would also be established, covering food, privacy, cleanliness, and dignity.
Source: Press release 6 January 2012, Department of Health
Links: DH press release | Conservative Party press release | Labour Party press release | RCP press release | Unison press release | BBC report | Nursing Times report
Date: 2012-Jan
