NHS funding drive focuses on nursing and midwifery

The Prime Minister and new Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt have announced £140m of funding to go towards improving the care standards of nursing and midwifery in the NHS. The funding will enable services to incorporate new technology that will extend the time professionals can spend with individuals in their care.

Confirming the availability of loans that Trusts will only have to repay a percentage of, the Department of Health promises that nurses and midwives will be able to choose what new kit or technology will be best suited to their workplace challenges and environment, while pledging less time spent on form-filling.

A ‘Friends and Family Test’ is another addition that will see service users able to report back on their experiences, with an added performance incentive for Trusts being that those who only receive positive feedback will not have to pay any of the loan back.

PM David Cameron comments: “Too often nurses have been met with a barrage of bureaucracy – the boxes have been ticked and the quotas have been met.

“My mission with the NHS is to change that. We need to focus relentlessly on improving the care people get, and we’re taking some big, practical steps to achieve that.

“We’re introducing one of the most simple tests that any caring organisation can have. We’re asking staff and patients if they would be happy to recommend the hospital they’re in to their friends and family. It’s called the Friends and Family test, and the results show in a very human way how a hospital is performing: not just how their budget’s looking; but how people feel about being there.”

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt commented on the importance of listening to professionals within the NHS: “Most nurses and midwives chose their profession because they wanted to spend time caring for patients, not filling out paperwork. New technology can make that happen. That’s better for nurses and patients too, who will get swifter information and more face-to-face time with NHS staff.

“The importance of these issues was laid bare by doctors’ and nursing leaders earlier this week. The Government’s role is to listen to the NHS and support these leaders – that’s what we’re doing today.”

Images: courtesy of Conservative Party Photostream