QUESTIONS have been asked as to why nurses in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot hospitals need special schemes to teach them skills needed to care for patients.
A programme called Empowering Ward Sisters is taking place in hospitals to ensure staff have the leadership and skills to manage wards effectively, and to develop standards of care.
But concerns about this scheme, and another called Fundamentals of Care, have been raised on the Evening Post website — www.thisissouthwales.co.uk
One person commenting on the site said: "Fundamentals of Care initiative? Empowering sisters? When I worked in the NHS as a nurse and midwife, the above just happened.
"If you have to introduce 'care' as an initiative — what was happening before the initiative?"
The comments come in the wake of the case of 90-year-old Vera Davies, of Fforestfach Cross, whose family felt forced to take her out of Singleton Hospital to nurse her back to health because of concerns about her care.
She was cared for at her 69-year-old son Ken McMurray's home in Gendros Crescent, Gendros, who logged a catalogue of complaints in a diary about her care. She later died of a stroke on October 15, 2009.
An Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board spokeswoman said at the time it was unaware of the family's concerns but was happy to look into the matter.
She added that nurses were extremely caring and went above the call of duty to ensure patients received the best possible care.
But another reader, based in Llanelli, queried whether the new nursing degree was making any difference, and said: "Having worked in the trust for a number of years and listening to 'old school' nurses, I deeply believe that the 'new' degree has not helped the standards of care.
"It's time to look at the old ways and bring them back. Nursing comes from the heart, not how far you can get up the ladder."
The ABM spokeswoman said in response: "Our nurses nurse because they choose to and caring for patients is as much a part of their role today as it was years ago.
"In today's climate of complex healthcare, a degree provides our nurses with an understanding of evidence- based care, which is best practice and ensures our patients are looked after even better.
"The Empowering Ward Sisters programme not only ensures staff have the leadership and management skills to manage wards effectively, but further develop those skills to support the improvement of ward cleanliness, standards of care and patient nutrition.
"The 'Fundamentals of Care' audit is the inspection tool we use to examine how well we are providing the essential care patients need.
"These inspections help us to improve standards and remove bad practice."
elizabeth.perkins@swwmedia.co.uk
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