Twitter - See who's saying what about health:
R.I.P Robin Williams. Another important reminder why #mentalhealth #depression and #suicide must not be ignored. @IndyNurseMag
I'll make reporting FGM mandatory for doctors, teachers and social workers. Let's end this abhorrent practice once and for all. #GirlSummit @David_Cameron
On this #WW1 anniversary, we mourn the nurses and health care workers who have died in conflict. We will remember them.@6Cslive
Find out how Derby #PracticeNurses are improving their appraisals and CPD: http://bit.ly/1olHZEI @PracticeNursing
Major push needed to boost mh research says Nick Clegg who wants to raise annual research spending by £50m by 2020 #futuremhn. @BenT_DH
Alcohol should carry similar warnings to tobacco, MPs say http://www.bmj.com/content/349/bmj.g513. @bmj_latest
Charge those who miss appointments
Interesting article about the nurses voting against GP charges. Everyone seems to have missed the point (people can't see the wood for the trees). Surely the sensible thing is to charge those not turning up for their appointments! Why penalise those who do? I would say though (in the patients' defence), that appointments are made so far in advance (if you can get one at all) that the patient has often recovered, died or forgotten the appointment by the time it comes around.
Anonymous, community nurse, Kent
DNAs cost us an hour a day
I do not agree with charging for appointments in primary or secondary care as it should be a system that is fair and shouldn't depend on affluence. Free to all!I do think that there should be some penalty for missed appointments, of which we have over an hour a day. Our practice has around 1600 registered patients.They are generally demanding and well educated.It makes us mad, as people complain they cannot get an appointment.
What is the solution?
Anonymous, practice nurse, Halstead
Archaic technology affects patient care
Regarding the article on mobile technology concern's among DNs, I have recently moved into community from a university where I was a senior lecturer. I think that, without question, the archaic technology in this sector affects the efficiency of the communication between senior management and staff and this ultimately has a knock on effect to the patient care.
Anonymous, community staff nurse, Cambridgeshire
Investing in the future of community
Great article about the transition from hospital to community nursing. Really excited about the future for community nursing. We need to include some form of preceptorship in this for newly qualified staff who choose to come straight into the community.
Jane Dickinson, community nurse
Peter Carter speech doubtful
I raised my eyebrows at the RCN Congress report. Dr Peter Carter received a standing ovation whilst he talked the talk about investing in nursing. He suggests that the savings that we make on generic prescribing might (that is might) be re-invested in our pay. Fat chance methinks, given the fact that practice staff, including nurses, are mostly employed under terms and conditions set by their GP employers totally divorced from the Independent Pay Review Body recommendations.
We are at breaking point, taking on more and more of our GP colleagues' complex workload for exponentially less pay.
Mandy Clare, advanced nurse practitioner, Dorset