PM's commission sets out programme for action

The five work streams, which cover a range of topics currently affecting nursing, were agreed last week at the Prime Minister’s Commission on the Future of Nursing and Midwifery’s second formal meeting. The work streams are as follows:

• Workforce;
• Vision;
• Quality and Innovation;
• The socio-economic case for nursing and midwifery;
• Helping and hindering forces in nursing and midwifery.

Nursing Times understands that each of the work streams is expected to produce an initial report on its findings in mid July. A Department of Health spokesperson confirmed that the topics for investigation had been agreed.

‘The commission identified and agreed a number of separate work streams to take forward over the coming months,’ she said. ‘The commission also discussed patient views of nursing and graduate level registration.’

As part of the discussion on patient views, Nursing Times understands that commission members compared results of the NHS patient survey over the last three years.

They are understood to have noted that, with the exception of hand hygiene, which had continually improved in the public’s perception, most areas directly related to nursing have failed to show any marked progress.   

Last month the commission launched a website to canvass the views of both nurses and the public on the profession.

As well as offering the opportunity for nurses to submit their opinions online, the website features blogs by commission chair Ann Keen and Anne Marie Rafferty, commissioner and dean of the Florence Nightingale School of Nursing and Midwifery at King’s College London.

The deadline for comments is Monday 10 August.

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