[Margaret Pilkington]

You ask what can a nurse do that a good trained care worker cannot do?(there are lots of things that they cannot do….but I do not propose to provide an exhaustive list)….they cannot be left in charge, they cannot give controlled drugs, they cannot administer meds…..but they have the BEST job….that is…caring for patients. (As a denier Ward Sister…I refused to be called Ward Manager…..I envied them this part of the job)

And the answer to that is if training a nurse to qualify was not really necessary….then why do it?
And the training a HCA is nothing like the training of a nurse…..BUT I have worked with some brilliant HCA’s….but they were called auxiliary nurses in my day….as a student I learned some very good lessons from the auxiliaries.

Yes, of course there are SOME qualified staff nurses who have that snobbish trait, but they are riding for a fall….and any sister worth her salt should be able to spot this and sort it out.

All levels of staff are vital….but to ensure the best care you also need to have the right mix of staff.
How many times have I done duty Rota’s to be asked to do them again because the skill mix was unbalanced?
I can tell you it is more than a handful.

I truly think the rot set in when they took the training out of the hands of the hospital and put them into universities.
I did my training before all this university education set in so I really knew and valued ALL those who had a hand in caring for patients…..from the top consultants to the lady who plus the beds out and cleans the skirting board….and the ladies who served the food.
All of them are vital….and as vital as a snobbish qualified nurse.