Included in the budget is an additional £30 million for social care to target delayed hospital discharges and community care

Responding to the Welsh Government Budget Announcement today, Helen Whyley, Executive Director of Royal College of Nursing Wales, said:

‘The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Wales acknowledges the Welsh government’s commitment to increasing funding for social care by £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.

“Nurses 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.”

“In 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.

“Despite 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 Royal College of Nursing would like to know of plans around funding for nursing education in Wales following Cardiff University’s 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.

“We 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.”

ENDS 

Notes to Editors

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) 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 RCN promotes the interests of nurses and patients on a wide range of issues and helps shape health care policy

For more information, contact the RCN Wales communications and media team on 02920 680 769 or mediawales@rcn.org.uk