David Cameron has warned "we still have a long way to go to raise standards across the NHS" as he announces a series of measures to improve nursing standards and care.
We have got to ensure that a culture of compassion is running through the veins of every place that provides care - no ifs, no buts and no exceptions.
We know we have a way to go and the NHS must fully embrace this challenge on behalf of the public.
It's good to see the prime minister personally getting behind this issue. And overall these plans add up to a sensible package with the new drive around the training of care assistants particularly welcome.
– Chief executive of the NHS Confederation Mike Farrar
Labour: Cameron's NHS proposals 'don't address real issue'
The shadow health secretary Andy Burnham has said that the Prime Minister's "headline-grabbing" NHS care announcement "don't address the real issue" of inadequate staffing levels to provide safe care.
David Cameron meets staff and patients at the Royal Derby hospital
David Cameron meeting staff at the Royal Derby hospital Credit: ITV CentralDavid Cameron talking to patient Ursula Chambers from Derby Credit: ITV CentralDavid Cameron talking to patient Cheryl Burns from Ilkeston Credit: ITV Central
PM: 'Long way to go to raise standards across the NHS'
We still have a long way to go to raise standards across the NHS and get rid of those cases of poor and completely unacceptable care that blight some hospitals and homes.
I want every hospital to give every patient the best possible care.
And I want to see patients given a real voice in deciding whether that care is good enough or not.
So from April, we will introduce a friends and family test and patient led inspections across all hospitals.
We know what an incredible job nurses do – and how much we ask of them. So we’re giving nurses more support to deliver these changes but also help for all NHS staff, health care assistants and carers. Good quality care must be everyone’s business.
It is crucial that we continue to rebuild confidence in the quality of care in our country – and I hope this effort will help us to do that.
Royal College of Nursing welcomes standards reforms
Day after day our members tell us that they want to focus their energy on the needs of their patients, spending more time at the bedside caring for them and their families.
The Prime Minister is right to acknowledge what an ‘incredible job nurses do - and how much we ask of them’, and we welcome today’s announcements to provide extra support and training for the nursing profession.
The RCN is particularly pleased to see a commitment to improved training and development for health care assistants and has welcomed the announcement that patients and staff will be asked for their views and recommendations about care settings.
Patients and staff know what good quality, dignified care looks like and this ‘family and friends’ test will be one important piece of the jigsaw that provides an overall picture of quality care.
– Dr Peter Carter, chief executive of the Royal College of Nursing
Hunt: 'I will speak out' if patient care is compromised
ITV Daybreak spoke to Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt over new measures to improve nursing standards.
He said these measures will be a 'step in the right direction', towards the attitude around healthcare.
And added: "I will speak out if there are any hospitals that get rid of nurses in a way that compromises patient care, because that shouldn't happen anywhere."
NHS faces issues over patient to staff ratio says healthcare analyst
Roy Lilley, Healthcare analyst told ITV Daybreak that the big issue concerning the NHS at the moment was the ratio of staff to the number of patients on the wards.
Today David Cameron will announce new measures to improve nursing standards, which he says is a key priority for the Government this year.
Feedback from patients is crucial to getting this right. The friends-and-family will be a key measure, highlighting the demanding, high-quality work that NHS staff do day in and day out, by shining a light on excellent as well as poor care.
Burnham: Cameron 'cannot blame nurses for the failings of his Government'
There can be no excuses for failing to treat people with dignity and respect. We support moves by the nursing profession to improve standards of care. But David Cameron needs to get his own house in order before he points the finger. He cannot blame nurses for the failings of his Government.
If David Cameron really wants to give patients the best care, he should step in to support the NHS front-line, stop the job losses and ensure that every hospital in England has safe staffing levels.
– Andy Burnham MP, Labour's Shadow Health Secretary
