David Cameron championed a return to old-fashioned nursing – including the return of matrons on hospital wards – on a visit to the Salford Royal today.
The prime minister announced a package of reforms he said would ‘reset’ Britain’s approach to caring for patients.
He wants it to become common practice to have a matron, sister or team leader on every ward. Nurses will also make old-fashioned ‘rounds’ to ensure all patients are happy.
There will also be new patient-led inspections, in which local people are sent into hospitals to examine standards of cleanliness, food, privacy and dignity.
And there will be a ‘friends and family’ test, in which patients, carers and staff will be asked if they would recommend a hospital to their nearest and dearest. Results of both the inspections and test will be published, with hospital chiefs held to account.
Mr Cameron shone the spotlight on the important job done by nursing staff, telling them patient care must come first and ‘everything else comes second.’
Visiting Salford Royal with Health Secretary Andrew Lansley, the Prime Minister met with patients and staff.
He praised the hospital for its "absolutely excellent record" in nursing care and said he had been enormously impressed by it.
He said: "They have very high standards of care and brilliant systems in place to make sure their standards don't slip. I think it's a model for other hospitals to follow."
Mr Cameron praised the hourly ward rounds that nurses carry out there and said they had real passion and care for avoiding hospital related infections that pointed the way for other organisations.
Sally Hulmes a matron on one of the hospital's acute medical wards said the Prime Minister's announcement could only benefit patient care. She added: "The patients benefit from seeing the nursing staff and having the confidence that there is a nurse there looking after them and the relatives are assured at home as well.
"It's about how you manage your workload, there's always going to be staff shortages but the fact we're with the patient actually reduces some of the workload because we're with them all the time."
The prime minister said that NHS bureaucracy had ‘conspired to undermine one of this country’s greatest professions’, adding: “We are going to get rid of a whole load of bureaucracy that stops nurses from doing what they do best.
In return, patients should expect nurses to undertake regular nursing rounds – systematically checking that each of their patients is comfortable, properly fed and hydrated, and treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.
“This happens in the best hospitals. In some it has never stopped happening. Now it needs to happen in every hospital.”
The drive aims to ensure patients are checked on at least hourly as part of a return to better bedside care and leadership on the wards. A new Nursing Quality Forum will be tasked with boosting leadership among frontline nurses and ensuring best practice is adopted across the country. Mr Cameron added:
“Now I know that politicians are always saying bring back matron - but it rarely seems to happen. People want to see a figure of authority on the ward. Call them a matron, a ward sister, or a team leader. The point is the buck stops with them.”
The patient-led inspections - which will run alongside inspections by hospital watchdog, the Care Quality Commission - will be rolled out from April 2013, with pilots starting this year.
They will require organisations to publish an action plan online explaining how they intend to address any shortcomings.
The 'friends and family test' will take the form of a question included on patient surveys and will act as an indicator of the quality of care at a given hospital. The question will also be mandatory for NHS staff and hospital bosses would be expected to investigate and take action where responses give rise to concern.
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It is about time this was done. When i did my nurse training in the '80's you did all your training on site, lived in, schooled at the hospital and did all your training at the one hospital with more patient interaction. That style of training should be brought back, not all academic, it should be taught whilst on the wards like the old days.
I am not against what David Cameron has to say, as long as he ensures the resources are in place to put things right. Just saying "get Matrons to do the rounds" is not enough..... unless there are Matrons who are free to do the rounds.
As for getting rid of red tape? I'm all for it! He was doing it with the police too...... but nothing has changed for the better yet, nearly 2 years into his Government.
I though putting so-called management consultants in charge and turning everything over to the profit-motive was going to solve all the problems humankind every had. So why in the Prime Minister micro-managing health wards now? As the only half-job he ever had was as a Propaganda Man (Public Relations Trainee) I suppose he reckons on getting some good press in the Tory papers. Why else would he care about what goes on in "socialist" hospitals.
Some humans have a habit of being very negative and this can have an effect on people around, they can be that strict (for the wrong reasons) that it has an impact on positivity of others. People scared to be themselves because others with power don't want it. if someone with authority sees others below them acting in the same manner then it can be that they see a mirror of themselves and let things manifest where eventually the whole group unless you are strong will become infected. This can then affect all manner of the system. The human mind can be weak when it comes to dealing with others psychological problems that are thrust on them. It can affect peoples home lives, lead to drink, and in some cases suicide. Sometimes you have to do musical chairs and demote people if the spirit is detrimental to the efficiency of a network.
Not too soon either. For too many years staff have worked without proper supervision matrons and sisters made to take charge of the wards will ensure staff are working. I sat in A & E waiting for a cut to be stitched. A male nurse examined my finger told me my wait would be a couple of hours (I was non urgent) he then disappeared for his break not before chatting with the reception staff about his night out for at least 15 minutes and then disappeared for well over an hour. Matrons will make sure wards are run properly as they will be responsible for areas they control.
It still baffles me why the PM would make these speeches without doing his homework...all wards already do have someone where the buck stops...usually called a Ward Manager, a nurse with years of experience who runs the ward. And matrons also exist, the Ward Manager answers to them...
"Carry On Cameron" !
Where to begin with this one...!
.....................and scrap university courses. Train on the wards. Uni is useless and unecessary
Just shows how LITTLE Dave Cameron knows about this subject !! "He wants it to become common practice to have a matron, sister or team leader on every ward" ... if he did his homework correctly he would KNOW that on every Ward there is either a Ward Manager or Team Leader !!!
My suggestion to him is to understand the situation before attempting to make chep voting winning comments ! Ohhhh and in addition, he would do well to cut the red tape and bureaucracy and actaully get Nurses back to the Patients bedsides instead of sitting at desks !! Far too many Nurses have their time taken in form filling !!
Less talk more action, Cameron.
Self-proclaimed leader of the free world 'Supercam', is now promising a murder victim's family 'justice'... is there no limit to the man's powers?
Stick to screwing the country mate, it's what you and your spineless ilk do best.
"They have very high standards of care and brilliant systems in place to make sure their standards don't slip. I think it's a model for other hospitals to follow."
This is almost exactly the same thing he said to the staff a Bombardier, the LAST train manufacturing company in the UK. He talked about how the company was a shining example (my words) and how companies like Bombardier would lead the revolution in British manufacturing and, in doing so, help Britain become great again.
Then he gave a £1.4 contract to Seimens.
Go figure.
Labour (Alan Millburn Health Secretary) reintroduced modern matrons in 2005.
I'm just waiting for the Sid James laugh from carry on matron..
The Labour supporters have been assembled and organised again to savage anyone seeking improvements in the NHS.
Those who are the very one`s who have turned the UK into a debt ridden,savage,drink all hours,crime ridden,celeb wannabee`s culture.
As for that poster who pointed out Tameside Hospitals administration benefits,you could supersede Peter Kay anytime.
Premature Deaths,Children Dead,Adults/Aged Dead,all substantiated as linked to Hospital negligence by the District Coroners regular findings and reports.
Ex Victim Tameside
Carry On Matron! Ooh, I say!