tammyins

Where do I start? I don't have a problem with regulation at all - it's the extortionate fees they're going to charge that will be crippling, especially as we're not operating from a level playing field. It was the representative of the CQC who told us that the voluntary associations would be given an easy ride - not a statement I merely plucked out of thin air. As a Registered Nurse, I'm already bound by the rules and regulations of the NMC, I adhere to those rules and to my Code of Professional Conduct and I'm proud of my practice. One of the reasons I left St John was because they were restricting my practice (being told not to touch any cardiac patients at a major event but to, instead, wait for the Drama, sorry, Trauma Squad to arrive was in clear breach of my Code of Conduct. I'm trained in ALS, PLS and ACLS, but was not allowed by St John to use those skills, even though I volunteered to come off duty in order to treat a patient. I couldn't have my professional hands tied behind my back like that. Really, I suppose though, I should be very grateful to St John. Despite being a charity, it charges for its services and we've picked up a lot of work when St John have cancelled duties at short notice because volunteers decided they couldn't work on the day. As far as CRB checks are concerned, I renew mine regularly but it's getting increasingly difficult. My husband applied to do some agency/bank work in a local A & E because we have 2 kids at uni and the extra money would have been helpful. His CRB request was submitted on 4 August. It's now 20 November and it STILL hasn't been done - he's not alone with this problem. There are many people who are losing out on potential jobs because the CRB aren't doing THEIR jobs. Think yourself very lucky you have the support of a voluntary organisation. If you come out into the real world and try to work in the private sector you'll find life much harder. Many of us have wanted regulation for many years - it's ludicrous that anyone can buy an old ice cream van, put a few stickers and a couple of lights on it and call themselves an ambulance service. Thankfully, we don't run ambulances any more, that's one less thing to worry about, especially as we don't receive them free from people like the Masons - unlike our local St John. St John can obviously afford the extortionate fees but for small, independent partnerships like ours (and there ARE good services out there) it will be difficult. £1500.00 just to register is way above what many will be able to afford, on top of the annual fee they're going to charge. Have regulation by all means, but make it fair and make it affordable and STOP moving the goal posts - we received a letter from the CQC this week to say we now have to register in December, rather than in April. Although the regulations only specify that records should be kept securely (I HAVE read the regulations), the CQC are insisting that we can no longer work from home because they don't want records stored in private houses so, instead of having records securely locked away at home, where there is almost always someone present, we now have to find premises (with all the attendant costs) where we will only be present for a few hours a day and where we'll still be using the same, secure storage units. Perhaps the CQC should look at some of their interpretations. I certainly wasn't looking for sympathy when I posted this subject. I wanted the opinions of other who will be affected by these regulations and fees, especially those who may be driven out of business by them because there are some of us who want to put a case to the CQC for reducing the registration fees to a more affordable level. I also want to know if anyone else is getting confusing signals - the CQC agent who spoke to people at the AofA said that CQC rules and regulations superceded those of the NMC - a point which I have had clarified by the NMC as being incorrect. So, if there are any others out there adversely affected by this much needed but ill-thought out regulation, please let us know.

Afternoon All! How many of you are going to fall foul of these new regulations (to come in April 2011)? If you're a lone operator, or part of a partnership (like myself and my husband), make sure you know where you stand because you're about to be bankrupted out of business! Anyone working in (most) areas of healthcare will have to be regulated by the CQC from April and it won't be cheap. It's going to cost £1500.00 just to register, then you have to pay for a manager to be registered, then you have to pay annual fees. I'm actually an Emergency Nurse Practitioner with an EMT certificate and qualifications in advanced care so I approached the Nursing and Midwifery Council for help and clarification - their advice was of no help at all so I spent all day yesterday reading the guidelines. One REALLY useful piece of advice (a bit of irony there) says that we shouldn't take the guidelines as gospel but should refer back to the legislation. I started reading said legislation this morning and after 4 hours, I'm still only 10 pages into it http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2010/781/introduction/made Most of my work is event and sporting medical cover and, if I read the guidelines correctly - and follow the advice given by some representative who gave a (useless) talk to the Association of First Aiders last weekend, then if I wish to continue to carry out advanced care I have to be registered and regulated (bang goes £1500.00 in registration). However, if I practice only as a first aider, using only the equipment available in an HSE first aid kit, I don't have to register. I'd also not be allowed to give medical advice, since this is a regulated activity. Therein lies a dilemma. If I only practice as a first aider, I could be considered to be in breach of our Code of Professional Conduct. The CQC representative admitted that St John and Red Cross have been given an easy ride over this regulation, in particular to the background checks and verifications, so why are small businesses (like my partnership business with my husband - no other employees) and lone operators going to be hit so hard. We're going to be bankrupted out of business. I'm now on the point of giving up a 30 year career because I just can't cope with all this crud. Granted, regulation is desperately needed in some areas. It's ludicrous that someone can buy a vehicle, convert it and call themselves an ambulance service but come on! Why penalise the people in the industry who work hard and try to do things right?