Plans for families to nurse patients in bid to free up beds amid scheme to recruit hundreds of doctors from India to plug NHS gaps
Relatives with no medical experience will be expected to learn how to inject drugs and monitor their loved ones until recruits can be found to fill gaping holes in A&E staffing
DESPERATE hospitals are training families to do the “daunting” job of nurses so they can send patients home quicker and free-up beds.
Relatives with no medical experience are expected to learn how to inject drugs and monitor their loved ones.
GPs are also being drafted in to hospitals to identify the patients they believe could be discharged and cared for at home under the supervision of their practice.
Dr Nick Wilmott, from Leicester City Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “We’re asking people to be prepared to support their loved ones to recover at home wherever possible.”
Dr Andrew Green, of the British Medical Association, said the request was “incredible”.
Meanwhile Jeremy Corbyn wants to cap the salaries of private healthcare firms bidding for NHS contracts to a ratio of 20:1. Serco’s £850,000-a-year chief executive would see their pay cut by around £500,000.
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At the same time as hospital bosses were unveiling their intention to train up Brit families for nursing roles, plans were revealed that suggested hundreds of doctors could be recruited from India to plug gaping holes in A&E staffing.
Health chiefs have agreed to bring in 20 this year, but that could grow to 200. And another 200 may come from Pakistan.
The “middle grade” doctors will work and train in hospitals for two to three years before returning home.
Trusts will pay £16,000 towards each recruit’s tuition as well as their salary. The project will be trialled in Greater Manchester before being rolled out nationally.
Ged Byrne, of Health Education England, said: “It helps fill an immediate need.’’