17.04.11
Nursing forum meets to improve care
David Cameron will host the first meeting of the Nursing and Care Quality Forum today to discuss efforts to improve care and respect for patients.
The forum is made up of frontline nurses, patient representatives and medical experts, and was created to address concerns about dignity and respect for patients, particularly the elderly.
Last year, the Care Quality Commission found that a fifth of NHS hospitals were breaking the law on care for the elderly, whilst 40% did not offer dignified care.
The Prime Minister will ask the panel to research ways of ensuring nurses have the time to provide proper care and use patient feedback to improve services, as well as to “restore a sense of pride” in the profession.
Cameron will say: “Nurses are some of the most caring, compassionate people in the country and I want to do everything possible to allow them to do a fantastic job. That means learning from the best – and helping everyone to match those great standards.
“That’s why I've asked the Nursing and Care Quality Forum to scour the country, find out what works best and share it across the NHS.
“We’ve seen how innovative changes to nursing can increase patient trust and confidence in their care. These are the kind of ideas we need to explore if we are to change the way nursing works and restore a sense of pride in the profession.
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