Hospital trusts to cut modern matron jobs in cash crisis
The move to bring back matron, a key policy in the Government's reform of the NHS, has been dealt a blow by a hospital trust that is considering axing half of its "modern matron" posts. Under cost-cutting plans to deal with a deficit of about £2 million, Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is considering losing 185 staff over two years, which it hopes will be absorbed in natural wastage.
The plans include reducing the 12 modern matron posts over the three hospitals. The senior nurses involved will either be found other high-grade jobs in front-line nursing or have to apply for posts that are still senior but do not have the same authority as a matron.
Since modern matrons were introduced about four years ago, 3,000 have been appointed at salaries of up to £35,000. Under new pay scales that can rise to more than £40,000. In most hospitals they are put in charge of groups of wards or specialities, such as medical or surgical wards or care of the elderly.
They were specifically charged with improving hygiene on wards. Modern matrons also act as patients' advocates, supervise meal times to make sure that patients are encouraged to eat, and oversee discharge arrangements. They are seen as figures to whom patients and relatives can appeal.
The Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals trust has already identified 185 posts that could go and says 100 of these will be clinical posts, mostly nurses. The Royal College of Nursing has already had early discussions with the hospital over nurse and matron job losses.
"Some of the modern matrons will be redeployed at the same level. It is possible that some of them will find themselves applying for posts in a lower pay band," said Mike Kavanagh, the RCN regional officer for Cambridgeshire.
"We are very concerned by this development. The nurses involved are very unhappy. These are nurses who really love what they do and who do not want to lose the jobs they love or the patients they love to work with."
Howard Catton, head of policy at the RCN, said it was monitoring nurse redundancies across the country. "We are concerned that trusts are targeting these experienced nurses.
"Modern matrons are very important in keeping experienced nurses in the NHS. These are senior nurses who do not have to move into administrative roles to enhance their careers."
Chris Wilkinson, director of nursing at the foundation trust, said: "We are consulting on a model that consists of seven matron posts, one part-time. The trust reduced the number of beds by about 100 during the last year, and this has been considered when reviewing the matron roles across the trust.
"Our matrons are pivotal in assisting the trust to maintain focus on quality of care that we provide for our patients."
A spokesman for the Department of Health said it was a matter for the hospital trust.
http://telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/02/06/nmatron06.xml
The plans include reducing the 12 modern matron posts over the three hospitals. The senior nurses involved will either be found other high-grade jobs in front-line nursing or have to apply for posts that are still senior but do not have the same authority as a matron.
Since modern matrons were introduced about four years ago, 3,000 have been appointed at salaries of up to £35,000. Under new pay scales that can rise to more than £40,000. In most hospitals they are put in charge of groups of wards or specialities, such as medical or surgical wards or care of the elderly.
They were specifically charged with improving hygiene on wards. Modern matrons also act as patients' advocates, supervise meal times to make sure that patients are encouraged to eat, and oversee discharge arrangements. They are seen as figures to whom patients and relatives can appeal.
The Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals trust has already identified 185 posts that could go and says 100 of these will be clinical posts, mostly nurses. The Royal College of Nursing has already had early discussions with the hospital over nurse and matron job losses.
"Some of the modern matrons will be redeployed at the same level. It is possible that some of them will find themselves applying for posts in a lower pay band," said Mike Kavanagh, the RCN regional officer for Cambridgeshire.
"We are very concerned by this development. The nurses involved are very unhappy. These are nurses who really love what they do and who do not want to lose the jobs they love or the patients they love to work with."
Howard Catton, head of policy at the RCN, said it was monitoring nurse redundancies across the country. "We are concerned that trusts are targeting these experienced nurses.
"Modern matrons are very important in keeping experienced nurses in the NHS. These are senior nurses who do not have to move into administrative roles to enhance their careers."
Chris Wilkinson, director of nursing at the foundation trust, said: "We are consulting on a model that consists of seven matron posts, one part-time. The trust reduced the number of beds by about 100 during the last year, and this has been considered when reviewing the matron roles across the trust.
"Our matrons are pivotal in assisting the trust to maintain focus on quality of care that we provide for our patients."
A spokesman for the Department of Health said it was a matter for the hospital trust.
http://telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/02/06/nmatron06.xml
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