Unions warn over impact on elderly care of cutting nursing posts in homes

CARE of vulnerable elderly residents will suffer under plans to axe all senior nurse posts in homes run by a Hampshire council, unions have warned.

The Conservative-run county council is proposing to shed 45 staff nurse posts in 23 residential and nursing homes to save £1.2m.

County bosses say senior nurses are not directly involved in patient care and the homes will continue to run safely.

But Unison and two ex-employees have warned the cut will hit care of the elderly. Many of the residents have dementia and require help with washing, dressing and eating.

The move comes as hospitals, including Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust, have been severely criticised for neglect of older patients.

At present, each council-run nursing home has a manager and two deputies who are staff nurses as well as nurses and healthcare assistants.

Over the next 12 months, a total of 90 jobs could go in a shake-up of staffing in care homes for the elderly.

It is not yet known which other posts will be axed. Across the council, 1,200 jobs will go by March 2012 after councillors approved the budget for 2011-12 at a full council meeting recently.

Tim Cutter, deputy branch secretary for Unison at the county council, said: “The council seems to think the role of a senior nurse just involves sitting in an office but that is not the case at all. They have a crucial role in managing the care of residents and supervising staff.”

Two trained nurses, who have both previously worked in one of the council nursing homes, said they were shocked by the cost-cutting plan.

One described the proposal as “dire.” She said: “Patient care will suffer. Senior nurses spend about half their time doing hands-on-care but they provide leadership for the other nurses and set the standard.

“The senior nurse has the most knowledge, so if the nurses have a problem there will be no-one to call on.”

She said senior nurses ensure care plans are followed by junior staff. These set how residents should be looked after to meet their individual needs.

For instance their medication, hygiene and feeding.

Senior nurses also supervise cleaners, handle patient complaints, liaise with other health professionals and organise staff training.

Another ex-employee said: “They need more qualified nurses – not less – to ensure a good standard of care, especially for dementia patients.”

Councillor Felicity Hindson, executive member for adult social care, said a new staffing structure would be introduced in June 2011.

She said: “One of the key proposals is to remove the role of senior nurse as this role is mainly office based as part of the management team and does not deliver direct care to residents.

“We are confident that without these posts, services will continue to operate safely and effectively.”

Cllr Hindson said adult services needed to cut £24m from its budget because of reduced government funding and rising demand for social care.