RCN briefings
Policy briefings, parliamentary briefings and consultation responses on the issues that matter to nursing staff
The RCN works with government, think tanks and other stakeholders to ensure the voice of nursing is heard. You can get involved in policy development by taking part in surveys, workshops, seminars and briefings.
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23 Dec 2010
Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs)
This briefing provides an over-view of Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs); the rationale for their use, examples of where they are currently being used in the English NHS, and their likely future use in the health care system.
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9 Dec 2010
GUIDANCE: Safe Nurse Staffing Levels in the UK
Staffing levels have always been an issue. 鈥淲hat is the optimal level and mix of nurses required to deliver quality care as cost-effectively as possible?鈥� is a perennial question. This report sets out the range of different factors that influence the total demand for staff and highlights the variety of methods for planning or reviewing staffing levels.
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9 Dec 2010
POLICY POSITION: Evidence-based Nurse Staffing Levels
This Policy Position accompanies the RCN report 鈥楪uidance on safe nurse staffing levels in the UK鈥�, which sets out the range of different factors that influence the total demand for staff and highlights the variety of methods for planning or reviewing staffing levels.
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26 Jul 2010
NHS White Paper
This is the factual briefing of the key themes in the NHS White Paper.
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1 Jul 2010
An independent NHS board: What will it mean for nursing and nurses
Proposed in the Conservative Party鈥檚 2007 White paper on health 'NHS Autonomy and Accountability', on the 20th May 2010 the Coalition Government announced its intention to 鈥渆stablish an independent NHS board to allocate resources and provide commissioning guidelines鈥�. Details of the independent board鈥檚 composition, scope and role are expected in the Government鈥檚 forthcoming health White Paper this summer. In the absence of specific details about the independent board at this stage, the Conservatives鈥� 2007 health white paper is the best indication of the board鈥檚 future design and scope. Using the Conservative鈥檚 vision for the independent board as a basis, this paper seeks to begin a discussion on what an independent board will mean for Nursing and nurses. It will consider what are the important questions and issues likely to arise from its creation, and discuss what the Government should consider when developing and implementing its decision.
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27 Apr 2010
New Foundations: the future of NHS trust providers
In February 2010 the 天美传媒 surveyed members in England working in NHS foundation trusts. The aim was to build a snapshot picture of our members鈥� opinions about their trusts to help us understand how foundation trusts are performing in the following areas: engaging with patients, local communities and staff to design services and shape strategy: using their greater independence; and helping nurses to deliver the highest quality of care. This briefing contains the results of this survey.
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27 Apr 2010
Review of Early Warning Systems in the NHS
The National Quality Board in England has produced a report which sets out the Early Warning System in the NHS in England. This briefing provides an overview of the system.
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26 Apr 2010
Competition in the NHS in England
This policy briefing provides an update on key Department of Health guidance which affects competition in the NHS in England.
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26 Apr 2010
Care homes under pressure
The 天美传媒 (RCN) care homes survey 2010 was undertaken to get a snapshot view of the current situation in England鈥檚 care homes sector, specifically focusing on capacity, workforce, meeting resident鈥檚 needs and quality of care. We surveyed registered nurses and health care assistants. Results show that complex care needs of residents are increasing. The staffing levels in these homes are unable to respond efficiently to meet resident needs. This policy report outlines the results of the RCN 2010 care homes survey and identifies policy responses on improving care outcomes.
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21 Apr 2010
Social care reform in England
On the 30 March 2010, the White Paper Building the National Care Service (NCS) was unveiled. Described as 鈥榓n historic reform鈥�, the White Paper is the Government鈥檚 blueprint for fundamental reform of the social care system in England to build a comprehensive NCS, free at the point of use. It follows the consultation Green Paper Shaping the Future of Care Together. In recent years, the issue of social care reform has gathered momentum and a clear consensus has emerged that reform is both necessary and urgent. Nursing has a critical relationship with social care, in delivering frontline care and providing healthcare for unmet social care needs, and social care reform is crucial for high quality care provision. However, in light of the current changing political, and challenging economic context the future of the White Paper is uncertain, and so too its vision. This briefing provides an overview of the case for reform of and recent developments in the social care system in England and, examines the key points of the White Paper.
