DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
News Release (2007/0316) issued by The Government News Network on
Nurses and health
practitioners were today invited by Health Secretary Alan Johnson
to share their views on their career development.
Speaking at this year's Chief Nursing Officer's
Conference, he launched a formal consultation to look at a new
structure for nurses' careers.
The draft proposals reflect changing health needs and the new
ways in which healthcare is being delivered by organising nursing
careers around a series of 'patient pathways'.
Five broad pathways that reflect patient care categories emerged
from listening to stakeholders' and nurses' views
earlier this year. They include:
* Children, family and public health
* First contact, access
and urgent care
* Supporting long term care
* Acute and
critical care
* Mental health and psychosocial care
Health Secretary Alan Johnson said:
"The NHS cannot stand still in the face of profound changes
in society and major challenges to health. We must design 21st
Century healthcare systems to meet these challenges. This must be
matched by a 21st century workforce and by launching this
consultation on a new career framework nursing, has taken a major
step in that direction.
"For the Health Service to reach its potential, we must
ensure that every single member of staff reaches their potential.
We are committed to delivering a rewarding and fulfilling career
for today's and tomorrow's nurses which is why I'm
delighted to launch our consultation on career planning for
post-registration nurses.
"Everyone should have clear sight on where their career is
heading. By linking these career paths with the patient pathways
which are emerging in the Darzi Review we can ensure that
professional development is linked with the transformation of the service."
Chief Nursing Officer Christine Beasley said:
"This national consultation is a great opportunity to shape
the nursing careers of the future. The proposed new framework
draws on the national and regional stakeholder events held over
the last year and takes forward recommendations from Modernising
Nursing Careers: setting the direction. It is so important that
this consultation on post registration training is launched at the
same time as the Nursing and Midwifery Council launch their
consultation 'A framework for pre-registration nursing
education'. We want to gather as many views as possible on
the options proposed and to find out if you think the options
proposed would work for nurses and equip them to provide the best
care for patients and service users."
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. The consultation will finish on 15 February 2008.
2. The consultation documents are available on the Chief Nursing
Officer's web site http://www.dh.gov.uk/cno.
3. Ahead of the consultation, the Department of Health ran a
series of listening events across England in spring 2007 where
over 1,000 nurses from clinical practice, education and research,
along with staff side representatives and employer organisations,
contributed to the development of these proposals.
4. The Government hopes to be able to report on the findings of
the consultation later next year.
5. The regulatory body, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC),
are also conducting a UK wide consultation to review
pre-registration education at the same time. This review will
consider the education that students receive in preparation to
register to practice as a Registered Nurse. Although the two
consultations are independent, this will facilitate a cohesive
approach to the consideration of future nursing career pathways.
[ENDS]