Good Care Mustn't Be Overshadowed By Bad Practice, RCN Says, UK

Main Category: Nursing / Midwifery
Article Date: 28 Aug 2009 - 2:00 PDT

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Examples of poor care in the NHS are 'completely unacceptable', but they must not be allowed to overshadow the vast majority of good quality healthcare given to millions of patients everyday. Dr Peter Carter, Chief Executive of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) responded as the Patients Association published a report on patients' experiences in hospital. Dr Carter also expressed concern that public confidence in the NHS could be undermined by the examples cited. He said:

"The level of care described by these families is completely unacceptable, and we will not condone nurses who behave in ways that are contrary to the principles and ethics of the profession. However we believe that the vast majority of nurses are decent, highly skilled individuals. This is reflected in the fact that last survey of patients by the Care Quality Commission found that over 90 per cent rated the care they received as good, very good or excellent.

"This report is based on the two per cent of patients who feel that their care was unacceptable. Two per cent is too many but we are concerned that this might undermine the public's confidence in the world-class care they can expect to receive from the NHS. Furthermore it could also dampen the morale of the millions of staff who work tirelessly to help their patients.

"Patients and families who feel that care is substandard must raise concerns as near as possible to the time of the incidents in order to allow for proper investigation. Sadly, it is very difficult to rectify bad examples of care weeks or months after the event. Everyone in the NHS must remain focussed on care, compassion and empathy - NHS and nursing values - in order to improve the quality of care for patients."

Source
Royal College of Nursing (RCN)

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