NICE calls for safe nurse staffing in A&E
16 January 2015
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has called on accident and emergency departments to consider how many staff are needed to provide at least a basic service.
Fri, 16 Jan 2015The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has called on accident and emergency departments to consider how many staff are needed to provide at least a basic service.
NICE, a body that provides guidance and advice to improve health and social care in England, has issued draft guidance for NHS organisations recommending minimum ratios are used on a shift-by-shift basis to help work out what services can be made available based on the seriousness of a person’s condition and the level of care they need.
Under the guidance the minimum staffing ratio in cases of major trauma or cardiac arrests should be two registered nurses for every one patient, while for either major or minor accidents or illnesses the ratio should be one registered nurse for every four cubicles.
NICE further recommends when planning staff numbers, departments should allow for enough nursing staff to care for higher than the average number of patients who attend the department on a daily basis. NICE advises by increasing weekly nursing staff hours to cover above average attendance numbers, staff can deal with unexpected peaks in the demand for A&E services and be moved around the department flexibly to respond to changing situations.
NICE also calls for a ‘red flag’ system where nurses look out for signals of increased pressures on the A&E system, such as patients falling or leaving without being seen, or overcrowding in the department. Nurses should report such circumstances immediately to the nurse in charge who can act to stop the situation getting worse.
The guidance is now out for public consultation until 12 February 2015, with guidelines expected in May 2015.
NICE, a body that provides guidance and advice to improve health and social care in England, has issued draft guidance for NHS organisations recommending minimum ratios are used on a shift-by-shift basis to help work out what services can be made available based on the seriousness of a person’s condition and the level of care they need.
Under the guidance the minimum staffing ratio in cases of major trauma or cardiac arrests should be two registered nurses for every one patient, while for either major or minor accidents or illnesses the ratio should be one registered nurse for every four cubicles.
NICE further recommends when planning staff numbers, departments should allow for enough nursing staff to care for higher than the average number of patients who attend the department on a daily basis. NICE advises by increasing weekly nursing staff hours to cover above average attendance numbers, staff can deal with unexpected peaks in the demand for A&E services and be moved around the department flexibly to respond to changing situations.
NICE also calls for a ‘red flag’ system where nurses look out for signals of increased pressures on the A&E system, such as patients falling or leaving without being seen, or overcrowding in the department. Nurses should report such circumstances immediately to the nurse in charge who can act to stop the situation getting worse.
The guidance is now out for public consultation until 12 February 2015, with guidelines expected in May 2015.
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