http://www.nursingtimes.net http://www.nursingtimes.net http://www.nursingtimes.net/magazine/graphics/logo.png http://www.nursingtimes.net http://www.nursingtimes.net/nursing-practice/clinical-zones/management/exclusive-nursing-leaders-pledge-action-in-response-to-francis/5058803.article?referrer=RSS http://www.nursingtimes.net/nursing-practice/clinical-zones/management/exclusive-nursing-leaders-pledge-action-in-response-to-francis/5058803.article Nursing leaders have pledged action in the wake of criticism by Robert Francis QC that they have not done enough to respond to his seminal report. shaun.lintern@emap.com (Shaun Lintern) Tue, 21 May 2013 00:01 GMT http://www.nursingtimes.net/nursing-practice/clinical-zones/management/union-calls-on-nurses-to-help-with-staffing-snap-shot/5055700.article?referrer=RSS http://www.nursingtimes.net/nursing-practice/clinical-zones/management/union-calls-on-nurses-to-help-with-staffing-snap-shot/5055700.article Nurses are being called on to take part in a national union survey to provide a “picture of the situation with staffing levels across the UK”. steve.ford@emap.com (Steve Ford) Mon, 4 Mar 2013 10:27 GMT http://www.nursingtimes.net/nursing-practice/clinical-zones/management/nurses-warned-to-record-concerns-about-workload-risks/5051388.article?referrer=RSS http://www.nursingtimes.net/nursing-practice/clinical-zones/management/nurses-warned-to-record-concerns-about-workload-risks/5051388.article Nurses have been warned to document their concerns on workload and workforce shortages in the wake of “worrying” results from a major union survey. steve.ford@emap.com (Steve Ford) Mon, 5 Nov 2012 07:00 GMT http://www.nursingtimes.net/nursing-practice/clinical-zones/management/nmc-fee-rise-could-face-legal-challenge/5051108.article?referrer=RSS http://www.nursingtimes.net/nursing-practice/clinical-zones/management/nmc-fee-rise-could-face-legal-challenge/5051108.article The Nursing and Midwifery Council’s decision to increase the registration fee by almost a third has been condemned by unions, amid concerns the move will have a disproportionate effect on part time staff. sarah.calkin@emap.com (Sarah Calkin) Tue, 30 Oct 2012 07:00 GMT http://www.nursingtimes.net/nursing-practice/clinical-zones/management/nurse-ratios-to-be-published-by-trusts-for-first-time/5046152.article?referrer=RSS http://www.nursingtimes.net/nursing-practice/clinical-zones/management/nurse-ratios-to-be-published-by-trusts-for-first-time/5046152.article Nurse-to-bed ratios are to be published for every hospital in England under plans to monitor quality in the reformed NHS, Nursing Times has learnt. sarah.calkin@emap.com (Sarah Calkin) Tue, 26 Jun 2012 00:00 GMT http://www.nursingtimes.net/survey-low-staff-levels-threaten-care/5043999.article?referrer=RSS http://www.nursingtimes.net/survey-low-staff-levels-threaten-care/5043999.article Seven out of 10 nurses believe that staffing levels in their ward or care setting are inadequate to deliver “safe, dignified, compassionate care”, a snaphot survey has revealed. shaun.lintern@emap.com (Shaun Lintern) Tue, 24 Apr 2012 00:00 GMT http://www.nursingtimes.net/nursing-practice/clinical-zones/management/bill-amendment-on-hca-regulation-withdrawn/5042690.article?referrer=RSS http://www.nursingtimes.net/nursing-practice/clinical-zones/management/bill-amendment-on-hca-regulation-withdrawn/5042690.article Baroness Emerton has withdrawn an amendment to the health bill, which would have brought in statutory regulation for healthcare assistants, to the disappointment of nursing unions. david.williams@emap.com (David Williams) Wed, 14 Mar 2012 10:00 GMT http://www.nursingtimes.net/nurses-face-increased-public-scrutiny/5042237.article?referrer=RSS http://www.nursingtimes.net/nurses-face-increased-public-scrutiny/5042237.article The performance of nurses is to be exposed to routine public scrutiny for the first time under a “transparency” pilot scheme that senior nurses hope to roll out across the country. steve.ford@emap.com (Steve Ford) Tue, 6 Mar 2012 00:00 GMT http://www.nursingtimes.net/whats-new-in-nursing/management/details-emerge-of-wide-ranging-nmc-review/5040815.article?referrer=RSS http://www.nursingtimes.net/whats-new-in-nursing/management/details-emerge-of-wide-ranging-nmc-review/5040815.article Whether the Nursing and Midwifery Council should be run by a nurse in future will be one of the questions considered by the “wide-ranging” review of the regulator’s structure, financial management and leadership. charlotte.santry@emap.com (Charlotte Santry) Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:00 GMT http://www.nursingtimes.net/whats-new-in-nursing/management/distressing-number-of-neglect-allegations-raise-nmc-concerns/5040796.article?referrer=RSS http://www.nursingtimes.net/whats-new-in-nursing/management/distressing-number-of-neglect-allegations-raise-nmc-concerns/5040796.article A “distressing” number of allegations of patient neglect by nurses have come to light in a Nursing and Midwifery Council report. charlotte.santry@emap.com (Charlotte Santry) Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:00 GMT http://www.nursingtimes.net/nursing-practice/clinical-zones/management/worry-grows-as-second-senior-nurse-leaves-nmc/5040522.article?referrer=RSS http://www.nursingtimes.net/nursing-practice/clinical-zones/management/worry-grows-as-second-senior-nurse-leaves-nmc/5040522.article Concerns have been raised about a lack of nursing leadership at the top of the Nursing and Midwifery Council after it emerged another senior nurse had quit the troubled regulator. sarah.calkin@emap.com (Sarah Calkin) Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:00 GMT http://www.nursingtimes.net/nursing-practice/clinical-zones/management/healthcare-assistant-regulation-plans-too-weak/5037819.article?referrer=RSS http://www.nursingtimes.net/nursing-practice/clinical-zones/management/healthcare-assistant-regulation-plans-too-weak/5037819.article Plans for a voluntary system of registration for health care assistants have been attacked as being too weak to significantly improve patient safety. ben.clover@emap.com (Ben Clover) Mon, 14 Nov 2011 10:43 GMT http://www.nursingtimes.net/nursing-practice/clinical-zones/management/three-quarters-of-nurses-fear-for-their-patients-safety/5035111.article?referrer=RSS http://www.nursingtimes.net/nursing-practice/clinical-zones/management/three-quarters-of-nurses-fear-for-their-patients-safety/5035111.article More than 75% of nurses fear for their patients’ safety due to inadequate staffing levels, poor ward layout and the bad attitudes of colleagues, a Nursing Times survey has found. sarah.calkin@emap.com (Sarah Calkin) Mon, 19 Sep 2011 00:00 GMT http://www.nursingtimes.net/nursing-practice/clinical-zones/management/nurse-vacancies-drop-below-1000/5029492.article?referrer=RSS http://www.nursingtimes.net/nursing-practice/clinical-zones/management/nurse-vacancies-drop-below-1000/5029492.article The number of nursing vacancies has plunged to fewer than 1,000 across the entire country, figures collated by Nursing Times reveal. charlotte.santry@emap.com (Charlotte Santry) Wed, 11 May 2011 00:00 GMT http://www.nursingtimes.net/nursing-practice/clinical-zones/management/student-bursary-consultation-launched-by-unions/5028348.article?referrer=RSS http://www.nursingtimes.net/nursing-practice/clinical-zones/management/student-bursary-consultation-launched-by-unions/5028348.article Unions have launched a consultation on the government’s latest proposals for reform of the bursary system that will offer healthcare students a minimum of £3,324 a year. steve.ford@emap.com (Steve Ford) Thu, 7 Apr 2011 15:37 GMT http://www.nursingtimes.net/nursing-practice/clinical-zones/management/government-returns-to-drawing-board-over-student-bursary-reform/5028008.article?referrer=RSS http://www.nursingtimes.net/nursing-practice/clinical-zones/management/government-returns-to-drawing-board-over-student-bursary-reform/5028008.article Student nurses are to be consulted by unions over fresh government proposals to change the NHS bursary. steve.ford@emap.com (Steve Ford) Thu, 31 Mar 2011 15:19 GMT http://www.nursingtimes.net/nursing-practice/clinical-zones/accident-and-emergency/lessons-not-learnt-from-mid-staffs-warn-nurses/5025974.article?referrer=RSS http://www.nursingtimes.net/nursing-practice/clinical-zones/accident-and-emergency/lessons-not-learnt-from-mid-staffs-warn-nurses/5025974.article Another Mid Staffs style tragedy is looming due to budget cuts and a failure to address the findings of the Francis Inquiry, nurses have warned in an online survey of more than 700 Nursing Times readers. charlotte.santry@emap.com (Charlotte Santry) Tue, 22 Feb 2011 00:00 GMT http://www.nursingtimes.net/nursing-practice/clinical-zones/district-and-community-nursing/reforms-will-make-cash-tills-ring-and-leave-us-all-the-poorer/5025234.article?referrer=RSS http://www.nursingtimes.net/nursing-practice/clinical-zones/district-and-community-nursing/reforms-will-make-cash-tills-ring-and-leave-us-all-the-poorer/5025234.article The government’s mantra “No decision about me without me”, has turned out to be pie in the sky. Fri, 11 Feb 2011 00:00 GMT http://www.nursingtimes.net/nursing-practice/clinical-zones/public-health/bill-presents-missed-opportunity-to-regulate-hcas/5024715.article?referrer=RSS http://www.nursingtimes.net/nursing-practice/clinical-zones/public-health/bill-presents-missed-opportunity-to-regulate-hcas/5024715.article Hopes that healthcare assistants could be placed on a statutory register to improve patient safety have been dashed by the Health and Social Care Bill, Nursing Times has been told. charlotte.santry@emap.com (Charlotte Santry) Tue, 1 Feb 2011 00:00 GMT http://www.nursingtimes.net/nursing-practice/clinical-zones/management/nmc-considers-opening-register-to-healthcare-assistants/5022978.article?referrer=RSS http://www.nursingtimes.net/nursing-practice/clinical-zones/management/nmc-considers-opening-register-to-healthcare-assistants/5022978.article The Nursing and Midwifery Council is considering opening a new section of the nursing register for so called “associate nurses”. ben.clover@emap.com (Ben Clover) Tue, 14 Dec 2010 00:00 GMT http://www.nursingtimes.net/home/clinical-zones/leadership/white-paper-will-reduce-the-nhs-to-a-mere-brand-name/5018757.article?referrer=RSS http://www.nursingtimes.net/home/clinical-zones/leadership/white-paper-will-reduce-the-nhs-to-a-mere-brand-name/5018757.article Throughout the general election campaign, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats promised the NHS would be safe in their hands. There would be no more top down decisions, we were told by the leaders of what is now the coalition government. Mon, 6 Sep 2010 07:00 GMT http://www.nursingtimes.net/nursing-practice/clinical-zones/management/ridiculous-sexy-nurse-advert-inflames-unison/5016412.article?referrer=RSS http://www.nursingtimes.net/nursing-practice/clinical-zones/management/ridiculous-sexy-nurse-advert-inflames-unison/5016412.article A television advert featuring “sexy” nurses has been slammed by Unison’s head of nursing Gail Adams as a “ridiculous fantasy”. clare.lomas@emap.com (Clare Lomas) Tue, 29 Jun 2010 00:00 GMT http://www.nursingtimes.net/specialist-news/acute-care-news/unison-calls-for-formal-hca-registration/5016136.article?referrer=RSS http://www.nursingtimes.net/specialist-news/acute-care-news/unison-calls-for-formal-hca-registration/5016136.article Unison is calling for the formal registration of healthcare assistants and national minimum competencies. ben.clover@emap.com (Ben Clover) Tue, 22 Jun 2010 00:00 GMT http://www.nursingtimes.net/whats-new-in-nursing/news-topics/health-workforce/rcn-launches-legal-action-against-safeguarding-scheme/5015545.article?referrer=RSS http://www.nursingtimes.net/whats-new-in-nursing/news-topics/health-workforce/rcn-launches-legal-action-against-safeguarding-scheme/5015545.article The Royal College of Nursing is launching a judicial review of a vetting scheme it fears will breach nurses’ human rights and have “catastrophic” consequences for their careers, Nursing Times can reveal. charlotte.santry@emap.com (Charlotte Santry) Tue, 8 Jun 2010 00:00 GMT http://www.nursingtimes.net/whats-new-in-nursing/acute-care/fearful-staff-quiet-over-drug-errors/5014972.article?referrer=RSS http://www.nursingtimes.net/whats-new-in-nursing/acute-care/fearful-staff-quiet-over-drug-errors/5014972.article Nurse fear of being disciplined for making a drug error could be putting patients at risk of harm, a Nursing Times survey has found. clare.lomas@emap.com (Clare Lomas) Tue, 25 May 2010 00:00 GMT http://www.nursingtimes.net/nursing-practice/clinical-zones/rheumatology/ward-duties-put-specialist-nurse-roles-at-risk/5014350.article?referrer=RSS http://www.nursingtimes.net/nursing-practice/clinical-zones/rheumatology/ward-duties-put-specialist-nurse-roles-at-risk/5014350.article Trusts that send clinical nurse specialists back to the wards could be putting the future of the clinical nurse specialist role at risk, Nursing Times had been told. clare.lomas@emap.com (Clare Lomas) Tue, 11 May 2010 00:00 GMT http://www.nursingtimes.net/nursing-practice/clinical-zones/management/strategies-needed-to-tackle-negative-image-of-nursing/5013222.article?referrer=RSS http://www.nursingtimes.net/nursing-practice/clinical-zones/management/strategies-needed-to-tackle-negative-image-of-nursing/5013222.article Directors of nursing must develop strategies to address negative perceptions of the nursing profession at a local level before launching any national campaign to improve nurses’ image. clare.lomas@emap.com (Clare Lomas) Tue, 6 Apr 2010 00:00 GMT http://www.nursingtimes.net/hca-regulation-cannot-be-based-on-pay-band-alone/5012547.article?referrer=RSS http://www.nursingtimes.net/hca-regulation-cannot-be-based-on-pay-band-alone/5012547.article For the past 15 years we have talked about the regulation of healthcare assistants and other staff groups. Over that time, we have had a change of government, we’ve introduced devolution, implemented Agenda for Change - but we still have not delivered for HCAs. Fri, 26 Mar 2010 09:44 GMT http://www.nursingtimes.net/whats-new-in-nursing/national-organisations/nmc-nursing-and-midwifery-council/nurses-will-have-no-say-in-barring-decisions/5012512.article?referrer=RSS http://www.nursingtimes.net/whats-new-in-nursing/national-organisations/nmc-nursing-and-midwifery-council/nurses-will-have-no-say-in-barring-decisions/5012512.article The head of a new super regulator has told Nursing Times it will not consult nurses it is considering barring from practice until it has already decided they pose a potential risk to patients. charlotte.santry@emap.com (Charlotte Santry) Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:00 GMT http://www.nursingtimes.net/whats-new-in-nursing/pms-commission/commission-logs-on-to-new-ideas/5007001.article?referrer=RSS http://www.nursingtimes.net/whats-new-in-nursing/pms-commission/commission-logs-on-to-new-ideas/5007001.article Nurses can spread new ideas by creating their own social networking sites, according to the innovation lead for the Prime Minister’s Commission on the future of nursing and midwifery. charlotte.santry@emap.com (Charlotte Santry) Thu, 1 Oct 2009 00:00 GMT http://www.nursingtimes.net/whats-new-in-nursing/swine-flu/swine-flu-vaccine-gains-union-backing/5006693.article?referrer=RSS http://www.nursingtimes.net/whats-new-in-nursing/swine-flu/swine-flu-vaccine-gains-union-backing/5006693.article Nurses and other health workers have been encouraged to get vaccinated against swine flu by the union UNISON. steve.ford@emap.com (Steve Ford) Fri, 25 Sep 2009 10:09 GMT http://www.nursingtimes.net/whats-new-in-nursing/news-topics/nursing-quality/cno-calls-on-nursing-for-ideas-to-avoid-nhs-slash-and-burn/5006456.article?referrer=RSS http://www.nursingtimes.net/whats-new-in-nursing/news-topics/nursing-quality/cno-calls-on-nursing-for-ideas-to-avoid-nhs-slash-and-burn/5006456.article Chief nursing officer for England Dame Christine Beasley is to ask nurses to suggest ways they can save the NHS millions of pounds in a bid to avoid arbitrary “slash and burn” cuts from managers. sally.gainsbury@emap.com (Sally Gainsbury) Tue, 22 Sep 2009 00:00 GMT http://www.nursingtimes.net/whats-new-in-nursing/acute-care/nurses-report-first-effects-of-recession-at-frontline/5006222.article?referrer=RSS http://www.nursingtimes.net/whats-new-in-nursing/acute-care/nurses-report-first-effects-of-recession-at-frontline/5006222.article Nurses have begun to feel the effects of the public sector spending squeeze in their workplaces. sally.gainsbury@emap.com (Sally Gainsbury) Tue, 15 Sep 2009 00:00 GMT http://www.nursingtimes.net/minister-says-student-bursary-shake-up-will-increase-diversity-of-nursing/5006212.article?referrer=RSS http://www.nursingtimes.net/minister-says-student-bursary-shake-up-will-increase-diversity-of-nursing/5006212.article The shake-up up of the student bursary system will help open up nursing to people from a wider range of backgrounds, according to health minister Ann Keen. steve.ford@emap.com (Steve Ford) Tue, 15 Sep 2009 00:00 GMT http://www.nursingtimes.net/whats-new-in-nursing/acute-care/nhs-could-cut-6500-nurse-jobs-as-recession-bites/5005732.article?referrer=RSS http://www.nursingtimes.net/whats-new-in-nursing/acute-care/nhs-could-cut-6500-nurse-jobs-as-recession-bites/5005732.article The number of nurses in England will be cut by more than 6,500 in the next three years, according to one of the first estimates of how the recession will affect jobs in the NHS. dave.west@emap.com (Dave West) Tue, 1 Sep 2009 00:00 GMT http://www.nursingtimes.net/trust-threatens-to-dock-nurse-pay-over-lapsed-registrations/5003819.article?referrer=RSS http://www.nursingtimes.net/trust-threatens-to-dock-nurse-pay-over-lapsed-registrations/5003819.article A London mental health trust that may have uncovered a potential legal minefield over lapsed registrations has warned its nurses that they could in future have their pay docked if they fail to renew their registration on time. Tue, 21 Jul 2009 00:00 GMT http://www.nursingtimes.net/student-nurse-bursary-overhaul-to-start-in-autumn/5003850.article?referrer=RSS http://www.nursingtimes.net/student-nurse-bursary-overhaul-to-start-in-autumn/5003850.article Proposals to overhaul the funding system for pre-registration student nurse training will be announced in September by the Department of Health, Nursing Times has learnt. Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:00 GMT http://www.nursingtimes.net/student-nurse-funding-to-get-radical-reform/5003295.article?referrer=RSS http://www.nursingtimes.net/student-nurse-funding-to-get-radical-reform/5003295.article Changes in pre-registration nurse training could see the funding of nurse education facing a radical overhaul. Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:00 GMT http://www.nursingtimes.net/whats-new-in-nursing/unison/tackling-domestic-violence/5002831.article?referrer=RSS http://www.nursingtimes.net/whats-new-in-nursing/unison/tackling-domestic-violence/5002831.article With domestic violence a serious public health issue and one of the biggest challenges facing the NHS, Helen Mooney reports on UNISON’s commitment to tackle the problem head-on and prioritise staff training as a key action point Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:20 GMT http://www.nursingtimes.net/whats-new-in-nursing/management/managers-must-back-new-guidance-for-nurse-whistleblowers/5002478.article?referrer=RSS http://www.nursingtimes.net/whats-new-in-nursing/management/managers-must-back-new-guidance-for-nurse-whistleblowers/5002478.article New guidance for nurse whistleblowers must have the backing of NHS managers if it is to have any impact, say unions. Richard.Staines@emap.com (Richard Staines) Tue, 9 Jun 2009 00:00 GMT http://www.nursingtimes.net/whats-new-in-nursing/management/cancer-tsar-to-be-judge-in-nursing-times-awards/5002169.article?referrer=RSS http://www.nursingtimes.net/whats-new-in-nursing/management/cancer-tsar-to-be-judge-in-nursing-times-awards/5002169.article The government’s national clinical director for cancer, Mike Richards, and the Department of Health’s NHS workforce director, Clare Chapman, are among the high-profile judges of this year’s Nursing Times Awards. Tue, 2 Jun 2009 00:00 GMT http://www.nursingtimes.net/whats-new-in-nursing/acute-care/what-does-the-48-hour-week-mean-for-nursing/5002163.article?referrer=RSS http://www.nursingtimes.net/whats-new-in-nursing/acute-care/what-does-the-48-hour-week-mean-for-nursing/5002163.article As doctors’ hours are reduced, will this mean greater career opportunities for nurses – or just more work being dumped on them? Steve Ford investigates how nurses think the European working time directive will affect their roles and standards of care. steve.ford@emap.com (Steve Ford) Tue, 2 Jun 2009 00:00 GMT http://www.nursingtimes.net/whats-new-in-nursing/swine-flu/pandemic-will-mean-nurses-take-on-new-roles/5001006.article?referrer=RSS http://www.nursingtimes.net/whats-new-in-nursing/swine-flu/pandemic-will-mean-nurses-take-on-new-roles/5001006.article NHS nurses must be prepared to work outside their traditional competencies should the swine flu pandemic take hold in the UK, according to latest guidelines. Richard.Staines@emap.com (Richard Staines) Tue, 5 May 2009 00:00 GMT http://www.nursingtimes.net/whats-new-in-nursing/pms-commission/commission-on-future-of-nursing-and-midwifery-meets-for-the-first-time/5000936.article?referrer=RSS http://www.nursingtimes.net/whats-new-in-nursing/pms-commission/commission-on-future-of-nursing-and-midwifery-meets-for-the-first-time/5000936.article The government’s Commission on the Future of Nursing and Midwifery has met for the first time this week. Wed, 29 Apr 2009 14:52 GMT http://www.nursingtimes.net/whats-new-in-nursing/unison/call-for-nhs-overseas-nurse-exchange-programme/5000753.article?referrer=RSS http://www.nursingtimes.net/whats-new-in-nursing/unison/call-for-nhs-overseas-nurse-exchange-programme/5000753.article The NHS should begin a national exchange programme that will allow nurses to work in developing countries to improve their skills, UNISON has said. Richard.Staines@emap.com (Richard Staines) Mon, 27 Apr 2009 18:07 GMT http://www.nursingtimes.net/nurse-stereotypes-holding-back-profession-says-gail-adams/5000701.article?referrer=RSS http://www.nursingtimes.net/nurse-stereotypes-holding-back-profession-says-gail-adams/5000701.article UNISON is taking action to promote a more progressive and positive image of nursing and clamp down on nurse stereotypes. Wed, 22 Apr 2009 07:00 GMT http://www.nursingtimes.net/whats-new-in-nursing/unison/how-should-hcas-be-regulated/5000407.article?referrer=RSS http://www.nursingtimes.net/whats-new-in-nursing/unison/how-should-hcas-be-regulated/5000407.article As HCAs take on more responsibilities and carry out more procedures, the pressure to regulate them is increasing. Views on how this should be done differ, explains Adrian O’Dowd Tue, 21 Apr 2009 00:00 GMT http://www.nursingtimes.net/whats-new-in-nursing/unison/new-body-to-protect-vulnerable-adults-and-children/5000398.article?referrer=RSS http://www.nursingtimes.net/whats-new-in-nursing/unison/new-body-to-protect-vulnerable-adults-and-children/5000398.article A new body has been set up to help prevent unsuitable people from working with vulnerable adults and children, reports UNISON’s Sarah Peters Tue, 21 Apr 2009 00:00 GMT http://www.nursingtimes.net/whats-new-in-nursing/unison/opportunities-for-hcas-to-work-prison-health-care-increasing/5000394.article?referrer=RSS http://www.nursingtimes.net/whats-new-in-nursing/unison/opportunities-for-hcas-to-work-prison-health-care-increasing/5000394.article Since prison health care became the responsibility of the NHS, opportunities for HCAs to work in this specialist environment have increased, reports Adrian O’Dowd Tue, 21 Apr 2009 00:00 GMT http://www.nursingtimes.net/whats-new-in-nursing/unison/hcas-the-heart-of-healthcare/5000390.article?referrer=RSS http://www.nursingtimes.net/whats-new-in-nursing/unison/hcas-the-heart-of-healthcare/5000390.article As I write this, I have just had first-hand experience of the NHS at its finest. I turned up as requested at 7am for my admission and was greeted by a young HCA who checked me in then directed me to my bed space. She showed all the patients around individually so we all knew where everything was. Tue, 21 Apr 2009 00:00 GMT