Welsh Conservatives have voiced support for the Royal College of Nursing’s concerns over the future position of discharge liaison nurses.
Commenting on the situation, Shadow Health Minister Andrew RT Davies AM said:
“District liaison nurses play a key role in reducing a patient’s wait to return home.
“However, many nursing positions, including that of the district liaisons nurses, are being put under pressure by certain elements of the 2010/2011 NHS Wales Annual Operating Framework.
“The Health Minister is asking local health boards to cut the number of nurses graded as band 5 or above by 3% every year for the next 5 years, while still expecting them to deliver the same levels of care.
“The Minister needs to come to the Assembly Chamber and explain to members how she expects health boards to meet these levels when she is asking them to cut the number of nursing staff.
“The move to reduce senior medical staff without medical justification beggars belief.
“It puts unnecessary pressure on already heavily burdened staff that are dedicated to providing excellent nursing care to patients across Wales.
“It is deeply concerning that the Minister is willing to allow nursing staff to face the brunt of her cuts while protecting the jobs of numerous executives from the old health boards.”
