Compassion in Practice: new nursing strategy

Compassion is generally accepted to be an essential element of every nursing contact with patients and clients. However, following a number of shocking reports into standards of care and particularly in the care of elderly patients, as well as the soon to be published final report by Robert Francis QC into the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust; care and dignity have once again been raised up the political agenda. Compassion in Practice,1 a new strategy for nursing and midwifery, was published in December 2012 in England by the Chief Nursing Officer at the NHS Commissioning Board, Jane Cummings and director of nursing at the Department of Health, Viv Bennet. The admirable 6Cs, which comprise the core of the new strategy, are set against recognition by Dr Foster that bed occupancy in English Hospitals is often over the 85% level which is seen to be optimal.2 The Royal College of Nursing’s General Secretary, Dr Peter Carter commented on the data in Dr Foster Report, saying: “It is of great concern that so many hospitals are operating close to capacity. What it reveals is a healthcare system under great strain. Nursing staff face increasing pressure with the nation’s healthcare needs becoming more numerous and complex and making less staff and resources available is having a large impact on patient care.”3

Compassion in Practice

The new strategy for Nursing and Midwifery is intended to be a three year strategy, with further details about implementation due at the end of February 2013. It has enjoyed a wide consultation process over two months, with many practitioners having an opportunity to influence the language and practicality of the strategy. The introduction to the document identifies the shared purpose in the document: “This strategy sets out our shared purpose as nurses, midwives and care staff to deliver high quality, compassionate care, and to achieve excellent health and wellbeing outcomes. It builds on the enduring values we have set out and for the pledges and rights of the NHS Constitution, which patients, the public and staff should and will expect. Every patient and person we support can and should expect high quality; we want that too and will deliver it.”