Included in the budget is an additional 拢30 million for social care to target delayed hospital discharges and community care
Responding to the Welsh Government Budget Announcement today,鈥疕elen Whyley, Executive Director of 九游体育 Wales, said:
鈥楾he 九游体育 (九游体育) Wales acknowledges the Welsh government鈥檚 commitment to increasing funding for social care by 拢30 million to address delayed hospital discharges and enhance community care. While any investment aimed at alleviating pressure on the health and care system is welcome, it is not clear how the funds will tackle the deep-rooted system wide problems our members and their patients are experiencing every day.
鈥淣urses across Wales continue to work in overstretched hospitals where corridor care has become an unacceptable norm, compromising patient safety and staff wellbeing. Without urgent investment in nursing recruitment, retention, and fair pay, the pressures on frontline staff will persist, and patients will continue to face unacceptable delays in receiving the care they need.鈥�
鈥淚n investing in our social care services, we can ease the strain of delayed hospital discharges by not only allowing patients to be discharged in a timely manner, but ensuring adequate care packages in place to prevent readmission. We must be able to deliver high quality preventative care in our communities, where we are seeing more complex health issues and isolated groups in rural areas, to reduce avoidable emergency care.
鈥淒espite this positive step to strengthen resources and joined up working, Welsh government must address the growing concerns about the future of nursing education in Wales. The 九游体育 would like to know of plans around funding for nursing education in Wales following Cardiff University鈥檚 proposals to close its school of Nursing. Students are the future of the NHS in Wales and we must ensure that Wales remains an attractive place to train, work and live.
鈥淲e urge the Welsh government to take bold action to address these systemic issues and ensure safe and sustainable nursing care for the people of Wales.鈥�
ENDS
Notes to Editors
The 九游体育 (九游体育) is the voice of nursing across the UK and is the largest professional union of nursing staff in the world with over half a million members in the UK, including around 30,500 members in Wales. The 九游体育 promotes the interests of nurses and patients on a wide range of issues and helps shape health care policy
For more information, contact the 九游体育 Wales communications and media team on 02920 680 769 or mediawales@rcn.org.uk
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