Leading nursing researchers welcome Government's response to Francis, but more could be done
Responding to the publication of the Government’s response to the Francis report, Jane Ball Deputy Director of the National Nursing Research Unit at the Florence Nightingale School of Nursing and Midwifery, King’s College London, said:
“The NQB report covers all the key issues; it’s encouraging to see recognition from the Government that nurse staffing is key in determining quality and outcomes for patients. The body of evidence around the direct relationship between the number of registered nurses on wards and patient safety has been growing and this report goes some way in recognising this.
“It’s also positive to see the responsibility for monitoring and reviewing safe staffing levels firmly placed at board-level, and that, if staffing levels cannot be rectified, boards will be asked to consider closing wards to prevent unsafe care being delivered.
“However, how will boards gauge what constitutes safe, or unsafe, staffing levels? Our research shows that where the number of registered nurses falls below a level of one nurse to eight patients, care becomes unsafe and can lead to patients dying unnecessarily. This can be a useful fundamental standard, which could be used whilst we wait for the guidance on safe staffing levels from NICE.
“The report is certainly a major step in the right direction, but we need to really grasp the nettle, and lay out clearly, in a way that everyone can use, what safe and effective staffing looks like in practice.”
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See Jane Ball's interview on the BBC News Channel
For more information or interview opportunities with Jane, contact:
Oliver Stannard, Communications Officer
Florence Nightingale School of Nursing & Midwifery, King’s College London
T: 020 7848 3062 M: 07941 863 881
E: oliver.stannard@kcl.ac.uk
Notes to editors:
The National Nursing Research Unit (NNRU) at the Florence Nightingale School of Nursing and Midwifery (King’s College London) undertakes high quality empirical research and reviews to inform policy and practice relevant to the nursing workforce. We aim to produce world class health services research that is of relevance to policymakers and healthcare leaders and which contributes to improving the quality and effectiveness of nursing in its social, political, local, national and global contexts. For more information go to http://www.kcl.ac.uk/nursing/research/nnru/index.aspx
Florence Nightingale School of Nursing & Midwifery
The Florence Nightingale School of Nursing & Midwifery at King’s College London is the world’s first professional School of nursing established by Florence Nightingale.
The number one Nursing and Midwifery School in London (Complete University Guide 2014) and highly regarded by leading London NHS Trusts with links to industry, health services and policy makers, the School develops leading-edge nurses and midwives of tomorrow – practitioners, partners, and leaders in their field.
The School has over 1,000 full-time students training to be nurses and midwives plus an extensive portfolio of undergraduate and postgraduate activities to meet the needs of a wide range of healthcare professionals seeking continuing professional development. The School is at the forefront of health services, policy and evaluation research and home to the influential National Nursing Research Unit (NNRU). For further information visit: www.kcl.ac.uk/nursing.
King’s College London
King's College London is one of the top 20 universities in the world (2011/12 QS international world rankings), and was The Sunday Times 'University of the Year 2010/11', and the fourth oldest in England. A research-led university based in the heart of London, King's has nearly 23,500 students (of whom more than 9,000 are graduate students) from nearly 140 countries, and some 6,000 employees. King's is in the second phase of a £1 billion redevelopment programme which is transforming its estate.
King's has an outstanding reputation for providing world-class teaching and cutting-edge research. In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise for British universities, 23 departments were ranked in the top quartile of British universities; over half of our academic staff work in departments that are in the top 10 per cent in the UK in their field and can thus be classed as world leading. The College is in the top seven UK universities for research earnings and has an overall annual income of nearly £450 million.
King's has a particularly distinguished reputation in the humanities, law, the sciences (including a wide range of health areas such as psychiatry, medicine, nursing and dentistry) and social sciences including international affairs. It has played a major role in many of the advances that have shaped modern life, such as the discovery of the structure of DNA and research that led to the development of radio, television, mobile phones and radar. It is the largest centre for the education of healthcare professionals in Europe; no university has more Medical Research Council Centres.
King's College London and Guy's and St Thomas', King's College Hospital and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trusts are part of King's Health Partners. King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre (AHSC) is a pioneering global collaboration between one of the world's leading research-led universities and three of London's most successful NHS Foundation Trusts, including leading teaching hospitals and comprehensive mental health services. For more information, visit: www.kingshealthpartners.org.
The College is in the midst of a five-year, £500 million fundraising campaign – World questions | King’s answers – created to address some of the most pressing challenges facing humanity as quickly as feasible. The campaign’s three priority areas are neuroscience and mental health, leadership and society, and cancer. More information about the campaign is available at www.kcl.ac.uk/kingsanswers.