Maintain pressure on reforms to protect NHSRCN gives cautious welcome to nurse pedometer plan
The RCN has warned that a plan to give Scottish nurses pedometers as part of an efficiency drive must not lead to an increase in pressure on frontline staff.
Earlier this month it was revealed that NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde had issued pedometers to nurses at one of its hospitals in order to track how far they walked to find equipment for patient care and, therefore, whether wards could be organised more efficiently.
RCN Scotland has said it cautiously welcomes the initiative. Ellen Hudson, associate director of RCN Scotland, said: ‘If this is to increase the amount of time that nurses can spend delivering patient care, it should certainly be considered.
‘However, we would need assurances from the health board that it is being done in the best interests of patients and not as a way of putting further pressure on staff. Also, as is important to see the big picture when it comes to efficiency, other staff such as doctors and cleaners should be involved,’ she added.
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Readers' comments (3)
Anonymous | 12-Aug-2009 3:42 pm
If this is part of a 'Productive Ward' initiative I think it could help if staff use it to show how it can increase patient facing time.
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Anonymous | 12-Aug-2009 6:11 pm
What about managers/chief exec etc, if we're measuring efficiency? That way we could tell if they ever leave their offices and if so, for what clinical purpose and whether they do in fact know where the wards are!
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Vincent Walsh | 14-Aug-2009 10:05 am
Scottish nurses should seize this opportunity to jog around their hospitals in search of missing equipment. It will help burn off the calories gained by driving to work and parking for free. Even better, leave the car at home, instead cycle, walk or run to the bus stop/train station.
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