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Tories ponder nurse job guarantee | Tories ponder nurse job guarantee |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Graduate nurses could be given a guarantee of one-year employment under a Tory government, David Cameron says. | Graduate nurses could be given a guarantee of one-year employment under a Tory government, David Cameron says. |
The Tory leader told a nurses conference it would allow them to gain the necessary experience to work elsewhere if there were no NHS jobs. | The Tory leader told a nurses conference it would allow them to gain the necessary experience to work elsewhere if there were no NHS jobs. |
He said he could not make a pledge at the moment but would look at it as a similar scheme operates in Scotland. | He said he could not make a pledge at the moment but would look at it as a similar scheme operates in Scotland. |
But the government said it should be up to local NHS bosses to decide who to recruit. | But the government said it should be up to local NHS bosses to decide who to recruit. |
No more pointless reorganisations. No more restructuring at the expense of the people who work in the system David Cameron, Tory leader | No more pointless reorganisations. No more restructuring at the expense of the people who work in the system David Cameron, Tory leader |
Mr Cameron also said he wanted to change regulations to compel hospitals to provide changing and laundry facilities to allow staff to change out of their uniforms before travelling home in a bid to control MRSA rates. | Mr Cameron also said he wanted to change regulations to compel hospitals to provide changing and laundry facilities to allow staff to change out of their uniforms before travelling home in a bid to control MRSA rates. |
Recent surveys have suggested only half of nurses have access to changing facilities and a third to showers and work-based laundry services. | Recent surveys have suggested only half of nurses have access to changing facilities and a third to showers and work-based laundry services. |
Speaking to the conference in London, he also pledge not to restructure the NHS if a Tory government was elected. | Speaking to the conference in London, he also pledge not to restructure the NHS if a Tory government was elected. |
He said there had been nine reorganisations in the last nine years and, therefore, he would work with the structure of primary care trusts and strategic health authorities he inherited. | He said there had been nine reorganisations in the last nine years and, therefore, he would work with the structure of primary care trusts and strategic health authorities he inherited. |
"No more pointless reorganisations. No more restructuring at the expense of the people who work in the system." | "No more pointless reorganisations. No more restructuring at the expense of the people who work in the system." |
Employment | Employment |
On guaranteeing nurses one year of employment, he said there were 14,000 graduate nurses - about three quarters of graduates - looking for employment and within four years there would be 14,000 vacant jobs. | On guaranteeing nurses one year of employment, he said there were 14,000 graduate nurses - about three quarters of graduates - looking for employment and within four years there would be 14,000 vacant jobs. |
"One way of helping address problems of supply and demand is the way that nursing training is organised in Scotland. | "One way of helping address problems of supply and demand is the way that nursing training is organised in Scotland. |
"There, nurses are guaranteed a year's employment once they leave education. | "There, nurses are guaranteed a year's employment once they leave education. |
"This allows them to consolidate their training and gain first-hand clinical experience. | "This allows them to consolidate their training and gain first-hand clinical experience. |
"It also means that if no appropriate jobs are available for them after the year ends, they have the skills to seek nursing work in other organisations or the voluntary sector. | "It also means that if no appropriate jobs are available for them after the year ends, they have the skills to seek nursing work in other organisations or the voluntary sector. |
"Let me be clear. I cannot make a pledge today along those lines. But we are going to look at whether a similar scheme in England would assist the recruitment of NHS nurses." | "Let me be clear. I cannot make a pledge today along those lines. But we are going to look at whether a similar scheme in England would assist the recruitment of NHS nurses." |
A Department of Health spokeswoman said guaranteeing nurses a year's work had been considered, but it was best for local NHS employers to make decisions on who they employed. | A Department of Health spokeswoman said guaranteeing nurses a year's work had been considered, but it was best for local NHS employers to make decisions on who they employed. |
"The Department of Health has discussed the feasibility of guaranteed employment schemes with Strategic Health Authorities and NHS Employers. | |
"Based on these discussions, we are not yet convinced of the merits of a guaranteed employment scheme. It is important that local employers are allowed to determine the numbers of staff they recruit." | |
But the Royal College of Nursing said it would support any moves to introduce an employment guarantee. | But the Royal College of Nursing said it would support any moves to introduce an employment guarantee. |
General secretary Dr Peter Carter said: "All too often workforce planning can seem like a rollercoaster ride with surplus following shortage, so when newly qualified nurses cannot get a job it is nothing short of a scandal. | |
"David Cameron's pledge to look at guaranteeing newly qualified nurses a year's NHS employment is a step forward. It would be good for nurses, and good for patients." |
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