use of specialist nurses on the wards... - Asthma Community ...

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use of specialist nurses on the wards AGAIN

2 Replies

Hello,

Are there any specialist nurses out there? Are you still being asked to work on the wards since the AfC?

A

2 Replies

Hi Ann,

The specialist asthma nurses at my local teaching hospital have had their jobs completely decimated by AfC and budget cuts. Whereas before there were four dedicated asthma nurses, working I think about 2.5 full time equivalent, plus COPD nurses, lung cancer nurses, ILD nurses, etc, there are now a vastly reduced number of general respiratory specialist nurses. Inevitably, most of their time goes on the COPD Early Discharge scheme, since that is the biggest area for saving of beds. The psychological support and telephone point-of-contact they used to provide for the severe asthmatics has been totally removed. They are also being asked to work on the wards. Of course, it's the most senior and experienced (and expensive) nurses that have been laid off completely. It seems to me to be a massively short-sighted policy - as a severe asthmatic, these folks have stopped me from being admitted unnecessarily in the past just by being there on the end of the phone with much needed advice and reassurance - something which they are now no longer able to do. They don't have the time to see all asthmatics on the wards, as they used to, or do the lengthy 'new diagnosis' talks about triggers, peak flows and so on. They try to see everyone who is post-ICU, but even that doesn't happen some of the time - and when it does, it's a rushed consultation. I really feel for them, because they very often seem very rushed and demoralised - I get the impression they don't have much job satisfaction any more. I certainly miss the service they used to provide.

I don't know if or when we are going to see an end to the progressive 'squeezing out' of the most senior, valuable, experienced nursing staff. It seems that it is just part of the incredibly short-sighted, penny-wise, pound-foolish way that the NHS is being run these days. Today's NHS is almost enough to make me glad that I can no longer work.

Em H

Thanks Emma for replying.

It really is demoralising. Thanksfully we are not as bad as that as I dont know of anyone who lost a job but in the next year a new unit opens which will mean all the childrens services being on one site apart from one speciality. This will mean I am transferred from one direstorate to another & it is their manager who is insisting that we all do a day a month on a ward ""to keep our clinical skills up & to raise our profile with the wards"". I think that is rubbish they just want to use us a fill in to save employing more general nurses.My clinical skills for my job are 2nd to none & there are not others who can do what I do. I struggle to do my work in my normal hours so end up with time owing which my line manager doesnot like either! Cannot win! I dont know about your unions but our dont appear to be very usefull. Anyway, we will have to see how it goes. What with that & only getting 8p a mile for home visits as well, it is really stressing me out. Still only 4 years to go when I can consider early retirment & part time in some nice little job - oops sorry they dont exist any more do they?

Ann

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