Working in independent health and social care (IHSC) can be challenging. Many of our members work within small nursing teams or single nurse services, where they may struggle with feelings of isolation or limited support networks. My role at the RCN is to raise the voice of these members through influencing, lobbying and advocacy on professional issues in Wales. I also encourage members to utilise the professional resources and support available to them through our forums and networks.
In 2022, the Nursing and Midwifery Council reported 36,045 registrants using a Welsh residential address. We estimate that approximately 9,744 of them are employed in IHSC. In addition to these registrants, there are a wide range of nursing support staff working in a variety of roles. This workforce is not one entity but a large and varied group, with our members working in a range of settings. This includes nursing homes, general practices, nursing agencies, occupational health services, hospices, private hospitals, academic institutions, professional bodies and charitable organisations.
Representing such a wide variety of nursing staff can be a challenge, especially with the NHS tending to dominate conversations around healthcare planning. Often, a government policy or strategy will be termed ‘all Wales’, but it will only actually cover the NHS, failing to consider the needs of IHSC staff. Oversights like this don’t only affect IHSC; they can also have a negative impact on the entire health care system. For example, inadequate staffing levels in nursing homes can lead to an increase in patients requiring care in hospital.
The RCN recognises that we need to do more to support our members in IHSC. We’ve developed an Independent Health and Social Care strategy which sets out our priorities in this area and how we plan to deliver them. A key element of this strategy is the appointment of an IHSC lead nurse in every country and region of the UK. My colleague Pam Penman and I share this role in Wales.
Pam and I know the power of hearing directly from members about the issues that concern you. We’re keen to listen to your voices and utilise your insights to help shape our work and drive our profession forward. In 2023, we started a series of roundtable events for IHSC nursing staff across Wales to identify future working priorities. We’ve also been running educational seminars with a specific focus on IHSC. For more information on how you can get involved, see our list of upcoming events.
If you’d like to find out more about our work to support IHSC nursing staff in Wales, please contact sian.wilson@rcn.org.uk or pam.penman@rcn.org.uk
