Nursing academics at Cardiff University are no longer being threatened with redundancy, the university has confirmed. Earlier this month, university vice-chancellor and president Professor Wendy Larner emailed staff an update on the university’s Our Academic Future consultation. “These proposals should never have been made whilst the future of health care in Wales hangs in the balance” Helen Whyley This consultation, which closed on 6 May, was launched in January and initially included plans to cut more than 400 full-time equivalent (FTE) academic staffing posts, close some of its courses and merge schools, in order to reduce costs. It included deep…
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Very few nurses in Scotland think that staffing is adequate to properly meet the requirements of the country’s safe staffing laws, according to new research. The study, conducted by the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing and Edinburgh Napier University, has uncovered the challenges facing Scottish health boards in implementing the Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Act. “The act’s overarching goal of ensuring safe staffing is not being met at the point of implementation” Eileen Lake The landmark legislation came into force in April 2024, following five years of delays, and has set out requirements for safe staffing levels across…
The majority of master’s-equivalent nursing apprenticeships will no longer be funded by the government, it has been announced. Funding for all level 7 apprenticeships will be removed from January 2026, unless the apprentice is aged 16-21 or is already on the course when the change comes in. “Many employers depend on the apprenticeship levy to fund leadership, specialist and advanced nursing education” Nicola Ranger Level 7 apprenticeships are equivalent to a master’s degree and are typically undertaken by older adults looking to progress in their careers. These, in nursing, include specialised apprenticeships in school nursing, health visiting, advanced clinical practice,…
A Cabinet Office director has been appointed to help lead cultural transformation at the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), it has been announced. Ravi Chand will be joining the regulator from 7 July as the new executive director of people and culture. “It’s an exciting chapter, and I look forward to driving positive change and innovation in the healthcare sector” Ravi Chand Mr Chand’s appointment comes as part of external recruitment for four substantive executive-level roles following a wave of resignations across the NMC’s board, first reported by Nursing Times earlier this year. The executive director of people and culture…
School nurses and health visitors are among those demanding that the government outlaws physical punishment of children, including smacking. An open letter signed by 13 health and social care organisations has asked ministers to back an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill that would remove the “reasonable punishment” defence in England. “We cannot, in good conscience, allow this outdated defence to persist” Letter Under the Children Act 2004, it is unlawful to hit your child except where it is a “reasonable punishment”, and this is judged on a case-by-case basis. The letter, signed by the School and Public…
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has issued formal definitions of nursing support workers, including a new distinction between healthcare assistants (HCAs) and registered nursing associates. A collaboration between various committees within the college led to the development of the new definitions, which were published earlier this month. “We are seeking to ensure that staff and patient safety is upheld” Wendy Preston A nursing support worker is now defined as a “collaborative member” of a nursing and multidisciplinary team providing person-centred nursing care, with this care always being delegated and supervised by a registered nurse. Under the new definitions, two…
Nurses are prepared to strike over an “insulting” 3.6% pay offer by the government, according to a campaign group. On Thursday (22 May), health and social care secretary Wes Streeting announced the details of the 2025-26 Agenda for Change pay deal, having accepted the headline recommendations of the NHS Pay Review Body (PRB). “There’s only so far you can push people before they say enough is enough” Holly Turner The deal means staff on Agenda for Change contracts in England, which include NHS nurses, midwives and others, are set to receive a 3.6% pay rise from August, backdated to 1…
A Scottish nurse at the centre of a changing room dispute has called on her nursing union to intervene. Sandie Peggie’s solicitor, Margaret Gribbon, has written to the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) in Scotland to request its support. “We believe it is important that all parties are treated with dignity and respect” RCN Scotland spokesperson She argued that, to date, the RCN had not attempted to resolve the matter with Ms Peggie’s employer, NHS Fife. A&E nurse Ms Peggie was suspended from work in January 2024 after a doctor colleague, Dr Beth Upton, made a formal complaint of bullying…
The world’s first routine vaccination for gonorrhoea is being rolled out in England. NHS England announced earlier this week that invitations for the immunisation programme will go out to eligible patients from 1 August 2025. “Gonorrhoea diagnoses are at their highest since records began and this has the potential to help us to turn that around” Matt Phillips The jab, an existing vaccine for meningococcal B disease (4CMenB), was greenlit for routine use by the government after analysis from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) found it also gave protection from gonorrhoea, and could help tackle antibiotic resistant strains of…
The final report from the public inquiry into the crimes committed by former neonatal nurse Lucy Letby is now expected in early 2026 – a decade after they took place. The Thirlwall Inquiry held its final hearing in March this year after seven months of evidence sessions. The inquiry chair – Lady Justice Thirlwall – is now collating her findings into a final report that will include lessons and recommendations for the health system. The 2026 date for publication of the final report is a delay to the timeline previously given. At the closure of the sessions, Lady Thirlwall said…