News by email Donate

Suggestions

Hospital-bed-main_article_image.jpg
JohnMKimmins
UK News

"Genuine anxiety" in NHS, says Christian expert

Steve Fouch, from the Christian Medical Fellowship (CMF) said nurses feel like "they're being asked to make bricks without straw" in terms of their workload, and a "loss of good will and a loss of moral" across the whole of the NHS because of pay and working conditions.

He was speaking after David Cameron made a speech in Birmingham, reiterating a pledge to make all NHS services in England, including GP surgeries, open seven days a week.

The pledge prompted the Royal College of Nursing to threaten strike action, if the move is funded by cutting the extra pay they get for working unsociable hours like weekends and holidays.

The King's Fund, an NHS thinktank, has said David Cameron's pledge to give the NHS an extra £8bn a year is not enough to fund opening all of its services seven days a week.

Steve Fouch, a nursing expert from the Christian Medical Fellowship, told Premier's News Hour: "I think there's a loss of goodwill and a loss of moral in the NHS at the moment.

"Where are the staff going to come from? We're facing staffing shortages in nursing and midwifery at the moment across the NHS.

"We've got a big problem with general practice; there are something like thirty percent of general practice training placements were left unfilled last year.

"How are you going to pay for all of this? There was a report earlier this year that said the NHS needed an extra thirty billion pounds funding a year by the end of this decade just to keep running as it is.

"There's a genuine anxiety because nurses' pay has been frozen for... several years... there's a genuine feeling amongst many in the nursing profession that they're being asked to make bricks without straw."

Listen to Premier's Aaron James speak to Steve Fouch on the News Hour.

A Monthly Gift Of $11 Makes A World Of Difference

In a world of fake news there’s never been a greater need for quality Christian journalism. Premier’s mission is to provide the Church with the most up to date and relevant news, told from a Christian perspective. But we can’t do it without you.

Unlike many websites we haven't put up a paywall — we want to keep our journalism free at the point of need and as open as we can. Premier’s news output takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce. No one in the USA is sharing news like we are across radio, magazines and online so please help us to continue that today.

For a monthly gift of $11 or more we’d also be able to send you a free copy of the brand new Premier Bible, a wonderful Anglicised version of the NLT packed with exclusive bonus content, reading plan and resources to help you get the most out of scripture.

Your monthly support will make a world of difference. Thank you.

Support Us
Continue the conversation on our Facebook page

Related Articles

Sign up to our newsletter to stay informed with news from a Christian perspective.

News by email

Connect

Donate

Donate