20/9/2006

Reducing the high levels of alcohol consumption could help to save thousands of lives and millions of pounds every year, according to the Royal College of Nursing in Wales.

Launching their manifesto for the next Government, the RCN pledged to campaign on six key issues that lie at the heart of nursing and patient care.

RCN Wales 22,000 nurse members are challenging all political parties to ensure health and patient care are central to their election manifestos. Core demands include: full funding for Agenda for Change, the pay and conditions modernisation package for NHS staff; increasing the number of community nurses; developing nurse-led NHS walk-in-centres; an increase in the number for school nurses and assurance that nursing staff numbers do not fall in Wales.

Val Lloyd AM, who launched the manifesto, said: "The document raises fundamental issues and we need to address them by working together. I am looking forward to what I am sure will be a fruitful collaboration ahead of next May's Assembly elections".

Tina Donnelly, Director RCN Wales, said: “We have set out, after consulting with our members across Wales what we believe are the most important things for the next Welsh Assembly Government to deliver.

'We know that all of our decision-makers believe that we should have a community health service but if this is going to work – then you need community nurses! Without community nurses, Design for Life will surely fail. In addition, we need to take steps to empower nurses through independent prescribing, nurse-led walk-in centres and nurse-led community hospitals. Wales needs nurses and not only for nursing! As nurses we are powerful advocates for our patients and improving the health service.�

Nurses, who deliver the majority of patient care, are demanding:

Reducing alcohol consumption among the population in Wales.
The Welsh Assembly Government should have a specific and fully funded ring fenced strategy in place to reduce alcohol consumption in Wales. This should involve public education, investment in services for those suffering from alcohol misuse, and consideration of the impact of advertising and licensing hours.

A dramatic increase in the number of school nurses.
This would be needed to ensure that every child and young person in Wales has access to healthy living advice from alcohol and drugs misuse, nutrition to depression. The Welsh Assembly Government should increase the number of whole time equivalent qualified school nurses in Wales by an extra 150 by 2012.

Quality Emergency Care Services across Wales.
The Welsh Assembly Government needs to invest in improving access to emergency care across Wales including investing in the ambulance service and protecting staff from abusive behaviour. Alcohol abuse is often a contributing factor to aggressive behaviour toward NHS staff. The RCN recognises that increases in abusive behaviour are an important factor in nurses leaving the profession.

Other key demands include:

Improve services by
Ensuring that nurses are entitled to paid protected time for continuing professional development
Supporting the training, career and development and regulation of health care support workers.
Support nurses and patients by
Continuing to focus on recruiting and retaining nurses.