Making it better with fifty new neonatal nurses

Date published: 16 February 2010

Greater Manchester’s children’s health services are celebrating the recruitment of fifty more neonatal nurses than in 2007 thanks to Making it Better investment, with 22-year old Faye Bushell from Radcliffe, based at The Royal Oldham Hospital, helping local units hit the half century.

Ongoing improvements to services for babies born prematurely or very poorly, means that Salford University graduate Faye is now in post alongside forty nine other new colleagues working across the region.

The majority of the new nurses will work across three new and improved sites at The Royal Oldham Hospital, St Mary’s and Royal Bolton Hospitals. Other units in Greater Manchester have seen new nurses appointed to improve staffing levels, spreading the benefit of a £100million investment in children’s and maternity services.

Faye, pictured, is excited about her future as part of neonatal services in the region. She said: “I came to The Royal Oldham on a three month placement whilst I was studying for my degree in Children’s Nursing and it was a great experience for me. The challenge and pleasure of working with both babies and their parents made neonatal nursing what I really wanted to do once I’d graduated.”

“The way the team works together and the sense of anticipation around the Making it Better changes over the next two years makes it an exciting place to work with plenty of opportunity to develop new skills.”

The new neonatal nurses will benefit from a 6-month induction programme delivered locally, with emphasis on meeting higher standards, continuing best practice and reflecting on their experience.

Leila Williams, Director of the Children, Young People and Families Network NHS Manchester, said: “The new neonatal nurses are an important part of the modern system of care being created and we are working hard to make sure that the services they provide will be delivered in the very best facilities possible.

“Fifty new neonatal nurses is a great milestone and it’s testament to the future we’re investing in for both children, parents and staff that such numbers of high calibre recruits are joining us.”

The Making it Better reconfiguration of neonatal services focuses on improving access to neonatal intensive care provision in Greater Manchester as well as concentrating neonatal resources and expertise in fewer units to improve the continuity and quality of care provided.

Dr Anthony Emmerson, Clinical Lead for the Neonatal Network, said: “The skills and enthusiasm of Faye and the 49 other new neonatal nurses helps us move closer to achieving the levels of staffing laid out in the Toolkit for High Quality Neonatal Services.

“As a network we are delighted that increasing numbers of nursing staff are working with sick newborn infants and their families and look forward to the time when all the planned nurses are in post.”

Recruitment continues with qualified nurses being sought for band 5 and 6 posts throughout Greater Manchester. For more information about a career in neonatal nursing visit online at www.makingitbetterrecruitment.co.uk