Nursing needs its leaders to respond to Francis
Teresa Smith
Recent activity
Comments (6)
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Comment on: Would you accept payment from the drugs industry?
There are no more pens or post it notes - ABPI rules changed some while ago. If I am prescribing for a patient, I need to know about the drugs, and keep updated via these seminars which bring together expert practitioners to share good practice. The NHS does not support this for us, and it is my responsibility to stay up to date so this is how I do it. Of course there is influence - I am influenced by the experiences of my fellow professionals who speak at these events, and I obtain information about the drugs and treatments I use from the companies that produce them, just as I would if I was buying a new cooker or car. And then I make the choice of what is appropriate for that patient, from the range available. The worst practitioners are those who "never see drug reps" as they don't have an awareness of newer or more appropriate products, not the knowledge of the good and less good aspects of the treatments which are only observed in clinical practice and shared at these events. I find it insulting that some believe we would prescribe one drug rather than another for any other reason than that it is the best clinical decision, made in concordance with the patient.
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Comment on: 'Employers have to bring the South West back into line'
Procurement and the inefficient, expensive contracts which trusts tie themselves into needs addressing, as Christina mentions. In my own Trust, staff constantly offer suggestions for realistic savings but are completely ignored. Emails unanswered, managers not taking things forward - as Anonymous says, it is sickening and terrifying.
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Comment on: NMC launches consultation on planned fee hike
As usual, excellent comments from coal face staff about the root causes of an increase in fitness to practice cases. In every controversy, it is clear that truly consulting with people actually doing the job could prevent the problems which occur when we are not listened to,and when non clinical policy makers bring in commercial initiatives which are not fit for purpose because they have NO understanding of the work we do. It is cheaper to do things well from the start rather than trimming services to the bone and beyond, and then dealing with the fallout.
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Comment on: Cutting specialist nurses could cost NHS millions, warns RCN
Anyone who was at the "Best Value, Better Care" epilepsy services commissioning conference in London yesterday will have seen the incredible support for the Specialist Nurse role from every single expert speaker, including Ann Keen, Health Minister. The evidence is there, NICE Guidelines encourage it, the Government appears to back the role, front line staff show outstanding levels of commitment to their patients and outcomes and savings are demonstrably excellent. I would ask PCT's and Trusts why these nurses are consistently undermined and undervalued, and not just in epilepsy care.
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Comment on: Cutting specialist nurses could cost NHS millions, warns RCN
Anyone who was at the "Best Value, Better Care" epilepsy services commissioning conference in London yesterday will have seen the incredible support for the Specialist Nurse role from every single expert speaker, including Ann Keen, Health Minister. The evidence is there, NICE Guidelines encourage it, the Government appears to back the role, front line staff show outstanding levels of commitment to their patients and outcomes and savings are demonstrably excellent. I would ask PCT's and Trusts why these nurses are consistently undermined and undervalued, and not just in epilepsy care.
