RCN Bulletin 324: February 2015
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NHS pay offer: page 3 HANDLING COMPLAINTS NEWS DIGEST P3 CONGRESS COUNTDOWN ANALYSIS P4 SUPPORTING SURVIVORS FEATURES P10 ISSUE NO. 324 FEBRUARY 2015 NURSING COUNTS RCN GENERAL ELECTION PRIORITIES P8 ELECTIONS.RCN.ORG.UK NEWS DIGEST The RCN represents nurses and nursing, promotes excellence in practice and shapes health policies. Editors: Kim Scott/Daniel Allen Editorial: 020 7647 3627 Email: [email protected] Web: www.rcn.org.uk/bulletin Address: 20 Cavendish Square, London W1G 0RN Classified advertising Services stretched Scotland investment Tel: 020 8423 1333 Fax: 020 8872 3197 The NHS is struggling and stretched The RCN has welcomed the Scottish Email: too thinly, the RCN has said in Government’s announcement that [email protected] response to a report from the King’s £100 million is to be invested in the Fund, which found that pressures on NHS over three years to tackle Acceptance of an advertisement We must make does not constitute an A&E are causing serious knock-on delayed discharges. Theresa Fyffe, effects for other services. Waiting sure the money RCN Scotland Director (pictured), endorsement of a product, makes a difference service or company, either by times for treatment are getting longer said this is an important first step in the RCN or RCN Publishing. as the NHS struggles with demand, starting to tackle the pressures in the report says. The RCN believes hospitals. However, she warned: “It For RCN country and problems are most visible in A&E is only one element of the pressure regional contact details visit but the whole NHS is affected. on beds and we must make sure that www.rcn.org.uk or call RCN the money is used for the purpose it’s Direct on 0345 772 6100. intended for and makes a difference.” © Copyright 2015. RCN Termination response Publishing Company Limited and The RCN has responded to a The Royal College of Nursing. Northern Ireland Department of China delegation For full copyright statement visit Justice consultation on proposed A delegation of Chinese health www.rcnpublishing.co.uk. Printed changes to the law on the termination managers visited the RCN to find on environmentally friendly paper of pregnancy. The response indicates out more about the College’s work from sustainable forests. broad support for the proposed on children’s and women’s health legislative changes covering lethal and gain an understanding about foetal abnormality, rape and sexual how the RCN influences policy in crime. It also backs the possible these areas. The 18-strong party alteration in the law to establish, for requested the visit after seeing the the first time in Northern Ireland, a RCN publication: Defining Staffing legal right of conscientious objection Levels for Children and Young for nurses and other health People’s Services. They plan to use Financial advice at professionals, an issue consistently these standards as a blueprint for highlighted by the College. delivering improved services when the click of a button they return home. Investing doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. NHS England A new low cost online Welsh award open investment service from Members who transferred into NHS Lighthouse could be just what England in April 2013, and those who Members in Wales are encouraged you’re looking for – it makes have started working for the to apply for the Chief Nursing Officer online investing simple. Why organisation since, are asked to (CNO) for Wales’ Betsi Cadwaladr not use it for your Individual ensure that their new employment Scholarship Foundation Award. Savings Account (ISA)? Visit details are up to date. “Without the Open to registered nurses and www.rcn.org.uk/xtra for more correct employer details we can’t get midwives, the award of £1,500 will information. in touch with members affected by be presented to the applicant who change,” said Sue Bucksey, RCN has achieved excellence in Employment Relations Adviser. leadership, clinical practice, research www.rcn.org.uk/myrcn or education. www.rcn.org.uk/wales WWW.RCN.ORG.UK/BULLETIN RCN BULLETIN FEBRUARY 2015 Members consider NHS pay offer Direct satisfaction Members are to vote on whether to The RCN says the offer is the best accept the latest government that can be negotiated and goes Nearly all members are satisfied proposal to settle the ongoing pay some way towards meeting the with services provided by RCN dispute. Vice Chair of RCN Council original demands in the dispute. Direct. In two recent surveys, Lors Allford said: “At an emergency members were asked to rate their The membership Council meeting we agreed But the College warned that there experience of calling the RCN should have the unanimously that the membership is more to do. Dr Peter Carter, RCN Direct membership and advice final say should have the final say.” Chief Executive, said: “The contact centres. In both cases, Government must recognise that the overall satisfaction rate was The new offer from the Government the only solution to the 90 per cent. Members were also came after sustained campaigning recruitment crisis, which is more likely to recommend the and lobbying work by the RCN and hammering staff morale and RCN to someone else than in the other NHS unions. Details are patient care, is a sensible long-term previous year. included in consultation emails and workforce strategy with fair pay at letters to be sent to members who its core.” work for the NHS in England. Complex complaints The proposal honours the As previously reported in RCN recommendation of the independent Bulletin, different arrangements are The way complaints are handled in NHS Pay Review Body (PRB) for a in place in Wales and Scotland. the NHS is still too complex, MPs consolidated one per cent pay rise for No offer has been made in have said. A report by the all staff up to band 8c. A consolidated, Northern Ireland. Commons health select committee or permanent, pay rise is taken into said there should be a single, easily account when calculating allowances Meanwhile, the RCN What if...? identified gateway for complainants and pensions. campaign to defend pay and to ensure their concerns are conditions will continue. Members handled by the most appropriate The Government has also proposed in selected NHS workplaces in organisation. an increment freeze in 2015/16 for England and Northern Ireland are staff on and above band 8a but has being encouraged and assisted to The RCN welcomed the report, offered a longer-term commitment seek time off in lieu or payment for saying it should help clarify to the PRB. excess hours worked. processes for members. The College stressed that every patient complaint is a valuable opportunity for the NHS to review its service and to improve standards of care. The RCN also backed the recommendation that NHS staff who raise concerns must be properly supported. A new RCN guide makes it easier for members to assess whether a situation they have witnessed or experienced should be raised as a concern. Download Good Practice for Get the latest news Handling Feedback from on pay at www.rcn.org.uk/publications www.rcn.org.uk/whatif Pay deal: members to decide RCN BULLETIN FEBRUARY 2015 WWW.RCN.ORG.UK/BULLETIN ANALYSIS Bournemouth beckons for lively debates Booking will soon open for RCN Stuart McKenzie (pictured), who Congress 2015, which this year this year will chair Congress for the returns to Bournemouth first time, urged members to book their place early. “If you’ve never Congress is a massive event in the been to Congress before, I can College’s calendar. Through a series promise you that attending for the Attending for the of member-led debates and first time will be an experience you first time will be discussions, it shapes professional won’t forget,” said Stuart. “And for an experience nursing practice and the direction those who are regulars, all of us on He added: “The general election has you won’t forget of RCN activity for the year ahead. the Congress Agenda Committee put health care firmly in the media will be striving to make this year’s spotlight and we fully expect that all As well as the main agenda, event more memorable than ever.” the political debate we are Congress features a diverse range witnessing at the moment will of events aimed at helping The committee is currently trigger many suggestions from members develop professionally. considering all the suggestions members about topics that could For all the There is also a huge exhibition submitted as possible items for make emergency agenda items.” information you need featuring employers, recruitment inclusion on the Congress agenda. about RCN Congress, agencies and suppliers, and Stuart said: “We’ve had some really RCN Congress takes place at the including details of countless opportunities to network interesting ideas from the submitting Bournemouth International how to book, visit with colleagues from all parts of entities and we’ll be announcing the Centre from 21 to 25 June. It is free www.rcn.org.uk/ the UK. agenda next month.” to attend. congress Members benefit from RCN legal expertise New figures show a successful Legal Services. “We have once again have endorsed them, saying they year for RCN legal team demonstrated our expertise and were either very satisfied or satisfied value for money. with the service they received. The last 12 months have proved to be immensely successful for RCN “Our figures show that having RCN The RCN’s legal team started 2015 lawyers who have fought to defend membership and therefore by winning a six figure out of court rights and provide protection for representation significantly We have unique settlement in a negligence claim for members throughout the UK.