RCN: Quality Acute And Emergency Care Saves Lives

Main Category: Nursing / Midwifery
Article Date: 30 Sep 2008 - 4:00 PDT

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Commenting on the release of the Healthcare Commission report, Not just a matter of time - a review of urgent and emergency care services in England, Dr Peter Carter, Chief Executive & General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), today said:

"This review is timely as it reinforces an RCN survey conducted earlier this year, which found that accident and emergency nurses are under immense pressure to meet the unrealistic four hour waiting time. A more realistic target is needed to ensure service delivery is not compromised.

"In spite of this pressure, the improvements in emergency care services demonstrate the outstanding commitment of nurses and other healthcare professionals who are working tirelessly to raise the standard of emergency care everyday.

"The review highlights some gaps in the delivery of emergency care, particularly the need for further integration of primary care trusts and healthcare providers. This can only be achieved if there is less bureaucracy, more investment in services and a commitment to recruiting and retaining staff.

"We know that well-staffed and properly organised acute and emergency care saves lives. The RCN looks forward to working closely with the organisations which will be charged with successful implementation of the recommendations made in this timely report."

Notes

A Royal College of Nursing (RCN) survey, published in April 2008, found three quarters (75%) of nurses said that patients were regularly admitted to inappropriate wards just to meet the target.

Other survey findings found that 78% of respondents felt that the introduction of the four-hour target has meant that certain groups of patients with multiple and complex needs have had their care rushed and compromised. While, more than half of nurses 59% felt that the responsibility to meet the target lay primarily with nursing staff as opposed to other clinical colleagues.

The RCN has called for the target to be reduced to 95% of patients seen within four hours rather than the current 98%.

Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is the voice of nursing across the UK and is the largest professional union of nursing staff in the world. The RCN promotes the interest of nurses and patients on a wide range of issues and helps shape healthcare policy by working closely with the UK Government and other national and international institutions, trade unions, professional bodies and voluntary organisations.

Royal College of Nursing