New nursing training

[Scottie]

Having read in the press about the Goverrnment's latest  wheeze - that students wishing  to take up nursing should spend a year as a nursing assistant, washing and cleaning, it occurs to me that this could be another way to get cheap/unpaid labour for a year, as there will, every year, be a supply of girls wishing to take up nursing.  Will these girls be paid or be treated as interns, or will they be paid the same wage as ward assistants are paid now. ?

 

 This seems a nice little earner for the hospitals and care homes who could replace existing workers with these trainees who could be treated as interns or as trainees on a lower wage than existing staff.

[wolfie]

Seems like another crafty move to encourage nurses to leave the profession and to be replaced with lower paid health care assistants.

 5,000 nurses have left the NHS SINCE 2010, while nearly 6,000 lower-paid and less well-qualified healthcare assistants have been taken on.

[observer]

Think you've probably hit the nail on the head Scottie; it's about cheap labour; as will be the importation of Filipino nurses etc. Whilst I agree in principle, that some basic skills should be taught and a sense of humility to their calling given, it should be as part of their overall training package imo.

[wolfie]

I read today that Cameron has defended plans to have trainee nurses start off as health care assistants before they start nursing.

That's fine. As long as trainee politicians start off as sewer workers before they start talking s**t.

[observer]

Thought the idea was for them to avoid having to do a proper job?!

[inky pete]

Seems like another crafty move to encourage nurses to leave the profession and to be replaced with lower paid health care assistants.

 5,000 nurses have left the NHS SINCE 2010, while nearly 6,000 lower-paid and less well-qualified healthcare assistants have been taken on.

 

Since the NHS employs over 100,000 nurses, a turnover of only 5% in 3 years is actually very low!

[observer]

Of the 100,000, how many are not British Nationals? Of the 5%, how many went into the private sector (now being promoted by this Gov) or migrated to the US or Oz?

[observer]

Seems they already have a cheap labour scheme, a trainee nurse on a fixed bursary can be expected to do extended shifts to cover staff shortages, without any additional recompense.

[Lt Kije]

Thanks for the info on that Obs, I didn't no, and my Daughter is in her first year of training to be a nurse.