Nursing in Practice Winter 2021 (issue 122 | Page 4

4 NEWS
Concerns raised over slow rate of UK nurses joining NMC register
The rate of nurses joining the NMC register from within the UK is growing too slowly to meet rising demand , the council has warned .
The mid-year registrant report from the nursing regulator , covering April to September this year , shows the number of nurses and midwives eligible to practise in the UK , and nursing associates who can practise in England , has grown by 13,011 to 744,929 .
The report points to the 10,642 professionals signing up from outside Europe as a ‘ big driver ’ of the growth but says numbers from the UK increased at a slower rate . There were 13,078 domestic joiners , down from 14,410 in the same period last year . Meanwhile , 11,668 left the register , up from 9,339 the year before .

MPs reject amendment to health bill to protect ‘ nurse ’ title in law

MPs have voted by 304 votes to 240 against an amendment to the Health and Social Care Bill that would have protected the nurse title in UK law , so only registered nurses could use it .
They discussed the amendment tabled by Labour MP Dawn Butler to ensure no one could ‘ practice ’ or ‘ carry out business ’ under the nurse title unless registered with the NMC .
Minister of state for health Edward Argar told the Commons the amendment was ‘ flawed ’ and did not address ‘ fundamental challenges ’, such as the title ’ s use by professionals including dental and veterinary nurses .
He explained : ‘ As has been pointed out by the interim chief nursing officer for Scotland [ Professor Alex McMahon ], any change would need careful consideration of the impact for public groups currently using the title nurse outside of healthcare settings .
‘ I ’ d also note the protection of a title is only one part of the regulatory system – and the complexities associated with this ,’ the minister added .
However , Mr Argar said he could see ‘ the benefit of providing reassurance and clarity for both patients and professionals ’ and understood the ‘ intent ’ behind the amendment ’.
Ms Butler said the ‘ long overdue ’ amendment was ‘ about the safety and protection of patients and the public ’. She pointed out the titles of paramedic and physiotherapist therapist are protected .
She continued : ‘ Public and patients have the right to know the treatment and advice they ’ re receiving is from a registered healthcare professional .’ She noted that more than 70 nursing organisations support protecting the nurse title , including the RCN , the QNI , the Institute of Health Visiting , Unison Health and Unite .
Despite the vote , Professor Alison Leary , who is behind a petition calling for the protection of the title , said on Twitter that ‘ we will not be stopping ’. She added : ‘ This is a serious public protection issue . We have seen the impact it has on patients and families .’
The Government said that it will ‘ consider in detail ’ whether to protect the title in law as part of the ongoing review into professional regulation , in response to the petition .
Is protecting the nurse title important , or is it just a case of semantics ? Comment , page 20
This is about the safety and protection of patients and the public
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Scottish nurses prepared to strike over pay , ballot reveals
Most RCN members on Agenda for Change contracts in Scotland have said they would take industrial action over their 4 % pay rise .
Nine in 10 polled said they would be willing to take industrial action short of a strike to oppose the pay award for 2021 / 22 ; six in 10 said they would go as far as taking strike action . The advisory ballot closed on 8 November , with 30 % of eligible members casting votes .
RCN Scotland Board chair Julie Lambeth said the college would update members shortly on its next steps following the ‘ strength of feeling ’ shown in the vote . However , the trade union also stressed no industrial action could take place without a statutory ballot .
Patients at risk amid unsustainable pressures , warns RCN
Patients are being put at risk because of the ‘ unsustainable ’ pressures facing the English health and social care system , the RCN has warned – highlighting a ‘ perfect storm ’ of nursing vacancies , high absence rates and a growing care backlog .
It noted NHS Digital data showing the NHS in England recorded 88,417 more sick days among nurses and health visitors in June 2021 compared with the same month in 2019 . Meanwhile , statistics from June this year reveal 38,952 vacancies for FTE registered nurses .
The college warned high sickness rates have a ‘ direct impact on sustainability of services ’ and could suggest high levels of burnout among the workforce . This further increases pressure on services as ‘ remaining staff are even more stretched as they try to cover for those off sick ’. nursinginpractice . com Winter 2021