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NHS trusts need more time and support to be able to regain financial stabilityrather than being forced to take drastic measures to balance the books by the end of the financial year, said the RCN today. The RCN argues that if we are to secure the future of the NHS, the Government needs to allow trusts currently in deficit more time to develop long term recovery plans which avoid the need to cut services and nursing posts and make staff redundant. In addition, the RCN wants to see detailed proposals that make explicit the implications of the move to transfer care from hospital to home. The RCN plea comes on the day the Secretary of State for Health, Patricia Hewitt, is due to give evidence to the Health Select Committee inquiry into deficits. Janet Davies, RCN Executive Director for Service Delivery, said: "When the Secretary of State gives her evidence to the Health Select Committee today, we hope that, for the sake of patients and NHSstaff, she acknowledges the impact of deficits on real people's lives. "As the professional union representing almost 400,000 nurses caring for more than a million patients a day we know that the deficits crisis is a clear and present danger that's hitting jobs, services and patient care. So instead of short-term cuts weurgently needalong-term recovery plan that gives trusts the time, flexibility and support they so desperately need." The RCN would like to see: More time and greater flexibility for trusts to achieve financial balance Trusts should be given three years to achieve financial balance. This would involve creating a sustainability (buffer) fund which can be used annually to help achieve balance. Sustainable workforce planning that assesses the long term consequences of short-term actions. Assessment on the impact of deleting posts and recruitment freezes on staffing levels and workload. Put an end to the culture of the short-term fix of vacancy freezes, post deletions and compulsory redundancies and move towards consultation and suitable alternatives. For students, guaranteed one year employment and preceptor ship in the NHS Acceptance and implementation of Workforce Review Teams recommendations on pre reg commissions; current proposals could result in taking us back to 2000 in terms of nursing education. A Transition plan for delivering care closer to home A local health economy strategic plan developed by all key stakeholders within a health economy to provide strategic direction and leadership for the reconfiguration of health and social care services, supported by a fully costed and sustainable financial transition plan. A commitment to clearly identify how services for patients will be improved before hospitals are closed or reconfigured Central to this is proper piloting of new initiatives and open and meaningful consultation with patients, with staff and with the organisations who represent them in order to develop workable solutions. Janet Davies said: "Trusts are having to take drastic measures to reach the Government's target for resolving their financial problems by April next year. Cutting jobs and services here and now might solve the problem in the short term, but the NHS will undoubtedly pay the price in the long run. "It is in the Government's gift to give trusts that extra time to put in place long term plans and do away with the need for damagingjob cuts and disastrous service reductions." 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.
Article Source: http://www.new.citynewslive.com
Royal College of Nursing, UK
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