RCN Responds To Publication Of Lord Darzi's Progress Report

Main Category: Nursing / Midwifery
Article Date: 01 Jul 2009 - 4:00 PDT

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Responding to the publication of Lord Darzi's report, High Quality Care for All: Our Journey So Far, Dr Peter Carter, Chief Executive & General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), said:

"Nurses have always strived to deliver quality care and welcomed Lord Darzi's vision for how clinical staff could achieve this. It has been a significant achievement that since the publication of the NHS review a year ago, everybody is talking about how quality of patient care should take centre stage in the NHS. However, in the tough economic climate we must not take our eye off the ball and let the focus on quality slip. If we are to make quality a reality rather than an aspiration, it is vital that nurses are empowered and given the right level of support.

"We have always said clinical leadership is key to driving up patient care and welcome the news that nurses are set to have greater control over budgets. Their frontline perspective means nurses know where money should be spent to achieve the best care for patients. However, adequate support and training for these professionals is needed, particularly while the threat of public spending cuts looms.

"While there have been significant improvements in the NHS, there are certain areas where further work is needed. There needs to be greater clarification regarding the practicalities of what delivering care closer to home would look like. Patients want to know exactly what services will be available in the area they call home."

"If genuine improvements to the NHS are to be achieved, significant progress towards delivering Darzi's promises must be made, and the new ways of working must be embedded, before the financial pressures take hold."

Source
Royal College of Nursing