Colin Poolman: Last News

Nurses are set to declare a “national emergency” today, warning NHS patients are dying in hospital corridors.

John Swinney has apologised to patients after a damning report revealed the impact of overcrowding in Scots hospitals.The First Minister today promised his "unrelenting focus" was on making sure people "get the care they deserve" from the NHS.But Labour warned the reality for patients was a health service in "permanent crisis on John Swinney’s watch".It comes after a report this week from the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) detailed the experiences of health workers forced to deliver "corridor care" as a result of unsafe and undignified conditions in hospitals. It warned patients being temporarily cared for in corridors or offices risked becoming "normalised" as a result of overcrowding.Colin Poolman, RCN Scotland director, said too often "people are being looked after in areas that are completely inappropriate for patient care".Swinney was pressed on the findings of the report at First Minister's Questions by Anas Sarwar. The Scottish Labour leader claimed the RCN analysis laid bare the “human cost” of the “incompetence” of the Nationalists.Sarwar said: “The reality is we have a permanent crisis in the NHS on John Swinney’s watch.”

A West Lothian-based dementia nurse has been honoured at a glittering awards ceremony.

Unions have demanded action from the Scottish Government to halt an "exodus of nursing staff" after new figures showed a 13 per cent rise in the number of employees leaving the profession.

Strike action by Scottish NHS workers has been put on hold after talks with unions and the Scottish Government.

A leading health union is calling on the Scottish Government to tackle the current crisis in the nursing workforce ahead of the Budget later today.

Senior nursing official has 'little confidence' in acceptable pay offer being made from from the Scottish Government.