Nursing Times
January 2012

View all stories from this issue.

#NurChat – Is David Cameron trying to lead a culture change in the NHS?

Did you miss the latest #NurChat twitter debate about the PM’s recent statements? Let us sum it up for you …
20% of pregnant women 'rely on internet' for antenatal information

Nearly 20% of pregnant women use the internet as their primary source of antenatal information, according to a study by the University of Cartuja in Spain.
30% of stroke victims suffer confusion

Mental confusion afflicts as many as three in 10 stroke patients who have been admitted to hospital, research suggests.
A former nurse and a bicycle in Cuba...

I decided to embark on the Cross Cuba Bike Ride for Parkinson’s UK early in 2011.
A new year for a new nursing student

As a first-year mental health nursing student I started my course in September 2011, along with around 20 other enthusiastic would-be nurses, of all ages and backgrounds.
Abortion clinics to advertise on TV

Private clinics that charge for pregnancy services, including abortions, will be able to advertise on television and radio under new regulations.
All admissions should have HbA1c test

All inpatients should have their blood glucose levels checked on admission, regardless of whether they are known to have diabetes, according to new US clinical practice guidelines.
All hip fracture patients should be 'fast tracked' for ops

All hip fracture patients should be operated on within 48 hours of admission to minimise the risk of complications occuring while in hospital, latest UK guidance states.
'Always keep your integrity and be kind both to patients and colleagues'

We talk to Susan Tokley, deputy director of nursing and patient experience at Whittington Health, who qualified as a nurse in 1980.
Alzheimer's patients' functioning 'improves' with therapeutic light intervention

Exposing patients with Alzheimer’s disease to coloured light can have a therapeutic effect by improving sleep patterns, according to US nurse researchers.
'Being on a ward really consolidates everything I have learned'

Hello fellow student nurses!
Blood vessels 'grown in lab'

British scientists may have found a way to grow “off the shelf” veins and arteries, The Daily Telegraph has reported.
Body clock gene link to diabetes

Defective versions of a “body clock” gene greatly increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, a study has shown.
Call to measure blood pressure on both arms

A study review has claimed that nurses and doctors could uncover underlying health problems in patients by making sure they take blood pressure readings from both arms and looking for any differences.
Cameron told nursing review 'must look at staffing'

The prime minister’s new “nursing forum” must include the impact of staffing levels in its review of care standards, according to nurse leaders.
Chief midwife brands Lansley's comments 'below the belt'

The chief executive of the Royal College of Midwives has hit back at the health secretary over claims that clinicians were opposing the government’s health bill because of concerns about pensions.
Confusing claims over internet addiction

People addicted to the internet may experience “changes in the brain similar to alcoholics and cocaine addicts”, The Daily Telegraph has reported.
Continence association announces annual conference dates

Delegate registration is now open for the Association for Continence Advice (ACA) Annual Conference 2012.
'Cuts to posts may hinder the PM’s plans for care'

The prime minister’s call to reduce the amount of paper-work so that nurses have time to care is of course joyous news.
Deodorant chemical 'found in breast tumours'

“Chemical found in deodorants, face cream and food products is discovered in tumours of ALL breast cancer patients”, reported the Daily Mail.
Diabetes drug 'may aid weight loss'

A “fat-busting jab could be the key to battling Britain’s obesity crisis”, the Daily Express has reported.
Do our brains decline from middle age?

“Memory and other brain skills begin to decline at the age of 45 - much earlier than previously thought,” the Daily Mail has reported.
Do you know how to identify and deal with stress?

Stress can have serious consequences. Be able to recognise the symptoms in yourself and your staff, says Carole Spiers.
Doctors reject pensions deal

Doctors have overwhelmingly voted to reject the government’s latest offer on pensions.
Does fruit and veg chemical fight cancer?

“A healthy fruit and vegetables diet could help guard against one of the deadliest cancers,” the Daily Express has today reported.
Does maternal diet raise your diabetes risk?

A bad diet during pregnancy raises an unborn child’s risk of developing diabetes in later life, The Daily Telegraph has reported.
Drug 'increases risk' of carpel tunnel syndrome for cancer patients

Risk of carpal tunnel syndrome is higher in breast cancer patients given the drug exemestane than in those treated with tamoxifen, according to an international study in the Lancet Oncology.
Drug to manage arthritis pain 'suitable for use'

Capsaicin can be used to help treat rheumatoid arthritis due to its mild side effects, according to a Cochrane review.
Early years professionals offered support through children's charity website

Towards the end of 2011, the national children’s charity 4Children, working in conjunction with the Department for Education, launched a new website aimed at professionals working with children in the early years.
England's heart attack deaths halved in under a decade

The number of people dying from heart attacks has halved in just under a decade, according to a study.
Environment 'sustains intelligence'

The Daily Mail has reported that “lifestyle is key to staying alert into old age”, and that genes are not to blame for changes in intelligence as we age.
Exercise 'may boost school performance'

BBC News has reported that there is “strong evidence of a link between exercise and academic performance”.
Experimental hepatitis C vaccine tested

An early clinical trial of a hepatitis C vaccine has shown ‘promising’ results,” BBC News has reported.
Extending flu jab to children would slash 'clinical burden of influenza'

Giving eight out of 10 children the seasonal flu vaccination could reduce the overall number of influenza infections by up to 95%, according to UK researchers.
Former nurse to take up new role with SHA

Heather Lawrence OBE is to leave Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust and start a new role supporting London’s NHS trusts in achieving foundation status.
Fried food study does not reflect UK diet

The idea that regularly eating fried foods causes heart attacks is a ‘myth’, The Daily Telegraph has reported.
Government calls on nurses to question patient's lifestyle

Patients should be asked about their diet, smoking and drinking habits every time they see a health professional, according to government advisers.
Government launches bowel cancer campaign

A government campaign has been launched to raise awareness of the symptoms of bowel cancer.
Government orders review of NMC

It has been confirmed that the Nursing and Midwifery Council is to undergo a strategic review due to its failure to deal with a long standing backlog of fitness to practise cases.
Government unveils £150m extra care home funds

The government has announced an extra £150 million for patients to receive care at home rather than in hospital.
Half of smokers 'unaware of risks'

More than half of smokers do not appreciate the risks associated with the habit, the NHS has said.
Have two alcohol-free days a week, say MPs

MPs have called for “two alcohol-free days each week and clearer guidelines on drinking”, The Guardian and other news sources reported.
'He taught me how the impact of the human touch could make a difference'

We talk to Yinglen Butt, deputy chief nurse (community) at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Foundation Trust in London, who has been a nurse since 1979.
'Health bill opposition is not about pensions'

So the Royal College of Nursing and the Royal College of Midwives have decided that enough is enough and it’s time to oppose the Health and Social Care Bill.
Health groups to discuss NHS plans

Health unions and Royal Colleges will hold a summit tonight to discuss the government’s controversial reforms of the NHS.
Heart attack risk 'rises after bereavement'

“Losing a loved one really can break your heart,” reported the Daily Mail.
Hospital nurses lose payments worth £500 a year

Nearly half of nurses at a south coast hospital could lose “recruitment and retention” payments worth around £500 a year.
Hospital visited by PM plans to cut 400 posts over three years, claims Blears

One of the hospital trusts visited last week by prime minister David Cameron to launch his new nursing forum has cut hundreds of nurse posts and plans to cut more, according to a Labour MP.
How I aim to find myself a job

Adult nurse, Sarah Harris, is on the hunt for the job of her dreams and wants to help you find yours
'I never thought I would be where I am now. You get out of it what you put in'

From healthcare assistant to director, Susan Jones has leapt up the career ladder - and she’s not finished yet.
Insomnia affects 40% in primary care

Around 40% of primary care patients suffer from insomnia linked to other conditions, according a study by the University of Auckland.
Investigate all 'GAS' infections, says HPA

Nurses who have come into contact with hospital cases of Group A Streptococcal (GAS) infections should be screened as possible sources, according to guidance from the Health Protection Agency.
Is taking a pill easier than treatment?

I recently saw a patient in one of my nurse-led clinics who had had a long history of overactive bladder.
Is the nursing profession branching out too far?

From the start of my course, if I had collected one pound coin for every time I had heard the words ‘collaboration’ or ‘inter-professional’ then I would certainly not be relying on my NHS student bursary or student loan whilst at university to fund me.
Lansley’s experiment with the NHS must never be repeated

As the editors of Nursing Times, Health Service Journal and the BMJ, we have divergent views on the government’s NHS reforms and its beleaguered Health and Social Care Bill.
Little evidence to back herbal remedies for osteoarthritis

There is little conclusive evidence that herbal medicines are effective in managing the symptoms of osteoarthritis, according to a review.
Living with Alzheimer's: accessing support

My father doesn’t recognise me anymore.
Living with Alzheimer's: fulfilling a wish

My father may have Alzheimer’s but he hasn’t lost his sense of humour!
Local pay discussed by foundation trust

A Midlands foundation trust has proposed that its staff go “several years” without incremental pay rises.
M5 crash sister praised

The sister in charge of the critical care unit at the hospital which recveived victims of the crash on the M5 motorway in November has been recognised for her calm professionalism during the crisis.
Many 'healthy snacks' are high in calories

It is the time of year when research about diet and exercise makes a big splash in the headlines, but the Daily Mail have warned that dieters should steer clear of seemingly healthy dips and spreads that are actually high in calories.
MHRA recalls batches of contaminated nasal spray

Two batches of saline nasal spray have been recalled from high street chemists due to safety concerns.
Middle-aged surgeons 'best performance' claim

“Middle-aged surgeons ‘are safest’”, BBC News has reported, while The Independent said: “If the surgeons [sic] young or old, put the operation on hold.”
Midlands nurse faces being struck off for relationship

A Midlands nurse faces being struck off for “breaching a fundamental tenet” of her profession and having sex with a mental health patient in her care.
Motivate your team to embrace change

Be passionate about your vision to help get your team on board, says Caroline Shaw.
MRSA treatment 'may be more effective' if alternative drug used

The drug linezolid (Zyvox) may be more effective at treating patients with MRSA nosocomial pneumonia than the current gold standard vancomycin, according to trial results published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases.
'Never compromise on quality of care - once you do that, it’s difficult not to cut corners'

We talk to Helen McCutcheon, head of school at the Florence Nightingale School of Nursing and Midwifery, King’s College London, who has been a nurse for 33 years.
New food guidelines for children

New guidelines on suitable food and drink for young children will be launched on Monday.
NHS 111 risks increasing pressure on A&E and urgent care

Unions have urged the government to slow down the roll out of the new non-emergency NHS telephone service amid fears a lack of nursing input could increase pressure on other services.
NHS PIP breast implants to be removed for free

There is not enough evidence to recommend the routine removal of PIP breast implants, a government expert committee has concluded.
NHS seeks care home stories from nurses and patients to inform practice

The NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement have announced that it is looking for experiences and stories from nursing staff and the public about changes, improvements and innovative new ways of working within care homes which will inform a new programme of work it is undertaking.
'NHS shouldn’t be safety net for irresponsible cosmetic clinics'

In the recent strong winds the large buddleia tree on our allotment was blown over. I have never “owned” a fallen tree before and, in a strange way, it rather affected me.
NICE guidance advises caution on asthma heat treatment

Clinicians should take special care when deciding whether to use new non-drug treatment for severe asthma because more research is needed into the practice, latest guidance state.
Nicotine patches can improve the memory of older people experiencing early mental decline

The small pilot study, though not conclusive, may point the way to new treatments that delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.
Nicotine patches may ease mental decline

A small pilot study has suggested that nicotine may aid memory in early dementia, according to BBC News.
NMC agrees 'in principle' to nurses removing themselves from register

Nurses accused of incompetence could in future leave the Nursing and Midwifery Council register in order to avoid full fitness to practise procedures, under plans agreed in principle by the regulator.
NMC chief exec resigns

The chief executive of the Nursing and Midwifery Council Dickon Weir-Hughes has resigned from his post with immediate effect, Nursing Times has been told.
'NMC faces challenge in replacing outgoing chief'

The news of chief executive and registrar Dickon Weir-Hughes’ sudden exit from the Nursing and Midwifery Council couldn’t have come at a worse time for nursing.
NMC reminds nurses that rules have not changed on assisted dying

A year-long review has concluded that rules on assisted dying in England and Wales should be changed to allow nurses to help some patients to die.
Nurse health and wellbeing should be 'core principle' for NHS trusts

Trusts should be held to account for improving the health and wellbeing of their workforce, the NHS Future Forum has recommended.
Nurse-led MS services are a 'win-win', MPs told

Neurology experts have praised a nurse-led multiple sclerosis service to an influential MPs committee, and called for stronger clinical leadership in the Department of Health.
Nurses asked for ideas to improve quality and safety in care homes

Nurses are being asked for ideas on how to improve patient care and working conditions in care homes, as part of a new programme of work by the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement.
Nurses 'don't question routine practices enough'

Routine practices should be systematically reviewed and updated regularly, as nurses do not generally question them, according to a survey of 400 Irish nurses by researchers from the Institute of Technology in Tralee.
Nurses 'frustrated' by lack of joined up data

Nurses and other clinicians need to change their mindset when it comes to the use of information, according to independent government advisors.
'Nurses have such brilliant ideas but it simply doesn’t occur to them to share them'

Jill Fraser jointly set up a website that collects simple ideas that can make a big difference.
Nurses should not take all the blame for poor nutrition

All health professionals should share responsibility for patient nutrition, rather than the blame falling solely on nursing, according to a leading patient safety nurse.
Nurses to feature in Olympics opener

Hundreds of NHS nurses are to feature in the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics, according to reports.
Nursing - do you remember?

Have you ever played ‘do you remember’, when a group of like-minded people with a common history start reminiscing? It happened to me the other day, and I want to tell you about it.
Nursing forum members will not be 'great and the good'

The prime minister’s new forum on nursing will be made up of frontline staff and also look at standards in social care, health minister Paul Burstow has said.
Nursing student to represent England at netball

A Leicester nursing student has been chosen to represent England at the upcoming Under-21 World Netball Championships.
Older people at risk from 'failing care system'

The government and the Labour Party are being urged to overhaul England’s “failing” social care system, which experts say is leaving 800,000 elderly people “lonely, isolated and at risk”.
Older women's sex drives examined

A survey of older women has found they are happy with their sex lives even though encounters tend to be less frequent, the Daily Mail has reported.
Our tweetly round-up...

We scour the twittersphere in order to bring you our top tweets from this week. Did you make it in?
Our tweetly round-up...

We scour the twittersphere in order to bring you our top tweets from this week. Did you make it in?
Our tweetly round-up...

We scour the twittersphere in order to bring you our top tweets from this week. Did you make it in?
Pharmacists overruling nurse prescribers 'poses safety risk'

Nurse prescribers could have their decisions overruled by pharmacists, posing a potential safety risk to patients, under latest proposals.
Phone app launched in bid to cut teenage pregnancies

A mobile phone app has been launched as part of efforts to improve sexual health and reduce unplanned teenage pregnancies in Kent.
PM orders regular ward rounds, nurse leadership and reduced bureaucracy

David Cameron today called for wider uptake of intentional nursing rounds and reduced bureaucracy, and established a nurse review group to address concerns about NHS care standards.
PM's forum should look at staffing and not 'beat up' nurses, says its chair

The chair of the review of nursing and care standards announced by the prime minister has said it should address staffing issues and not “beat up” professionals.
Prescription drug overdose 'increases physical injury risk for young'

Taking two or more prescription drugs at any one time can double the fall risk for the young and middle aged, similar to the effect seen in older people, according to Auckland University researchers.
Protein gives clue to hearing loss

Gene research may provide a clue to the causes of deafness, according to the Daily Mirror.
Quiz yourself ... What's your money management style?

1. You have to buy a new reference book for a course, it’s supposedly essential throughout the entire course. What do you do?A. See if they have it in your library - you can always keep renewing it.B. Buy two books - one to have at home and one to keep in your locker at college - you don’t want to have to keep carrying it around after all.C. Take a look around for second hand shops and Amazon off
RCN and RCM harden their opposition to health bill

The royal colleges of nursing and midwives have openly opposed the government’s health and social care bill for the first time, and called for it to be scrapped.
RCN attacks planned cut in Scottish student nurse places

The Royal College of Nursing has strongly criticised moves by the Scottish Government to slash the number of training places for nurses and midwives by nearly 300 in 2012-13.
RCN calls on CQC to improve 'relevance and credibility'

Over a third of nurses believe the Care Quality Commission does not take sufficient account of staffing levels, according to a survey conducted by the Royal College of Nursing.
RCN to consult members on pensions offer

The Royal College of Nursing is to ballot its members on whether to accept or reject the government’s “final offer” on pensions, it has announced.
RCN warns Lansley of nurse backlash but chance of anti bill consensus recedes

The Royal College of Nursing has rejected suggestions it has weakened its opposition to the health bill, despite the apparent failure of the royal colleges to agree a consensus at the end of last week.
'Registration for HCAs provides reassurance for families, support for staff and ensures accountability'

Want the lowdown on the latest in nursing politics? Our student nurse Lorna Mclean talks the talk.
Report finds too few health visitors in Croydon

Health visitors in the south London borough face caseloads of nearly double recommeded levels.
Salford Royal Foundation Trust refutes nursing cuts claim

One of the hospitals chosen by the prime minister for the launch of his new nursing care drive has refuted suggestions it is cutting hundreds of nursing posts.
Scabies outbreak shuts hospital wards

Two wards at a hospital in Sussex had to be closed to new admissions for 48 hours after an outbreak of scabies.
Scans reveal brain effects of magic mushrooms

“Magic mushrooms could one day be prescribed for depression,” The Independent has reported.
Scientists 'discover how to read minds'

“Mind-boggling! Science creates computer that can decode your thoughts and put them into words,” the Daily Mail’s headline exclaimed, while The Daily Telegraph heralded an era in which a “mind-reading device could become a reality”.
Scientists grow sperm in lab

Infertile men may soon be able to father children with their own sperm grown outside their bodies, the Daily Mirror has today reported.
Shock in children after vaccination 'extremely rare'

Anaphylactic shock following vaccination is “extremely rare,” according to research by University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, published online in the Archives of Disease in Childhood.
Simple COPD score could help nurses predict exacerbation severity

Nurses can use a simple, eight-question test to accurately measure and predict the severity of symptoms in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, according to UK researchers.
Six staff disciplined over care standards at Norfolk hospital

Six members of staff have been disciplined over incidents relating “to poor practice regarding care” of older patients at a troubled foundation trust.
'Skateboards will be needed to deliver hourly ward rounds'

Every newspaper I have seen over the past two weeks appears to be giving away a fitness guide, with names such as Think Your Way Fit, Olympic Fitness for the Over-40s and Fifteen Ways to Fit Into Last Year’s Pants. Nursing Times isn’t planning such a supplement, they are too busy doing nursing stuff, so I offer my own personal guide to wellbeing.
'Sometimes Parkinson’s patients have complex needs and it helps having someone to see them at home'

Lynn Gill’s ingenuity has transformed life for patients with Parkinson’s disease.
Staff in Cumbria attack trust management over cuts

Nurses, unions and other medical staff have issued an unprecedented joint attack on management at a trust and is calling for senior officials to go.
Statins 'may block cancer'

A daily dose of statins has “been shown to block the growth and spread of tumours,” according to the Daily Express.
Stem cell therapy 'safe for eye condition'

A groundbreaking stem cell trial offers hope for millions with progressive conditions that end in sight loss, the Daily Mail has reported.
Stick to your New Year’s resolutions

There are steps you can take to ensure behaviour change, says Patrick Ladbury.
Study linking HRT to breast cancer 'was wrong'

Several newspapers have reported that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) does not increase the risk of breast cancer.
Support for student nurses: what you can expect

One question that’s been asked to me by prospective and new students who are about to embark on their nursing career is ‘how much support do you get?’
Surgeon calls for removal of faulty implants

All women with faulty breast implants should have them removed given the “uncertainty and lack of knowledge” about the extent of the problems, a leading surgeon has warned.
Synthetic particles 'could boost vaccines'

“Tiny capsules engineered to mimic part of the body’s immune system could strengthen its response to vaccines,” reported the BBC today.
The healing process

Student Nurse Helen Farmer’s fourth placement on a Women’s Health Unit starts with building relationships with her new team and confronting her fears.
'The knowledge just seems to be clicking into place'

Student Nurse Helen Farmer realises that qualifying is growing ever closer so decides to seize every opportunity to learn that she can.
'The most important aspect of this job is touch'

Complementary therapist Jan Wilkinson feels touch is an essential aspect of care.
The nursing roster: it's all about me!

Ask any nurse about their feelings regarding the nursing roster, off-duty or schedule to work and many would think twice, and say it’s a necessary part of working within the healthcare system.
'There is so much scope in nursing - believe it is all possible'

We talk to Janet Davies, director of nursing and service delivery at the Royal College of Nursing, who started training as a nurse 36 years ago.
'This year’s resolution is to see the power in the little things'

Well I don’t know about you but I am going to try to do a lot more swimming.
Throat spray to help detect cancer

A fluorescent “throat spray” that pinpoints abnormal cells could help healthcare staff spot early oesophagus cancer, research has shown.
Understand when to give praise

Greater staff morale is just one benefit of recognising and rewarding achievements, says Susan Hodgetts.
Union attacks trust for district nurse mileage rate cut

The union Unite has said Northumbria Foundation Trust “could face a legal challenge” after nearly halving the mileage paid to some of its staff.
Unions claim 'united front' against health bill

Health unions have described their opposition to the health bill as an “unprecedented united front”, following a hardening of opinion by the royal colleges of nursing and midwives.
Unite rejects pensions deal

A union representing more than 100,000 NHS workers has rejected the government’s offer on pensions, opening up the possibility for more industrial action.
University dropped from NHS London course provider list

A major shake-up of nurse education in London has resulted in the University of West London being dropped from a list of the capital’s training providers.
Video shows health visiting is 'not just weighing babies'

A short video has been made by students at Solent University to encourage more people to become health visitors.
Warning for trusts planning to water down pay and conditions

Trusts should be “wary” of withholding pay increments from staff with poor attendance records, one of the country’s most senior industrial relations figures has told Nursing Times.
Warning over fall in social care funding

Spending on older people’s social care in England has fallen by half a billion pounds, according to a new report.
'We won’t win Brain of Britain as long as protocols deskill us'

My wife is away and I have a cold.
Woman dies at Stepping Hill

A 60-year-old woman, believed to have been poisoned by contaminated saline at a hospital, has died, police said.

Nursing TimesJanuary 2012

Job of the week

Jobs

Nursing Times
January 2012