Nurses in swine flu ward row

NHS chiefs fear thousands of nurses could REFUSE to help out if hospitals are swamped by a swine flu epidemic.

Staff have been warned they could be struck off if they make mistakes dealing with an outbreak.

Now nursing leaders have said they could refuse to work, leaving the NHS overwhelmed as the number of swine flu deaths tops 100 and serious illnesses from the disease rise.

If Britain is hit by a major epidemic this winter thousands of nurses and doctors will be drafted in to help. Some will be from specialist areas - such as cancer treatment - and have little or no experience in dealing with outbreaks like swine flu.

And while the General Medical Council has said it will make allowances for doctors who make minor mistakes if it is outside their specialist area, the Nursing and Midwifery Council says nurses WILL face being struck off for mistakes.

Now NHS chiefs have called on the Department of Health to intervene to get the NMC to soften its stance and head off a revolt from the nurses.

Janice Sigsworth - nursing chief of the UK's largest trust, Imperial Healthcare, said: "The NMC should not be scaring nurses into thinking they will be struck off if they make a mistake in a job they don't normally do."

But the NMC is sticking by its tough line.

A spokesman said: "If they work outside their normal area they must be accountable for their actions and omissions."

This article has 0 comments