'Compassion' rating plan for nurses

Nurses are to be rated according to the levels of care and empathy they give to patients under a new initiative to raise standards in the NHS, it has been revealed.

Health Secretary Alan Johnson told The Guardian newspaper he wants the performance of every nursing team in every ward across England to be scored, with the results displayed on an official website.

Mr Johnson said he believes compassionate care from nurses is as crucial to the recovery of patients as the skills of surgeons.

The compassion index will be compiled by health regulators using surveys of patients' views while in hospital, including feedback about the attitude of staff.

It will also measure standards of nutritional care, minimisation of pain, hand-washing, and safety on the wards.

The proposal is being launched in Manchester at the annual conference of the NHS Confederation, which represents NHS organisations and some independent healthcare providers, ahead of the 60th anniversary of the health service next month.

In an interview with The Guardian, Mr Johnson said it was the first of several initiatives which will emerge from a review of the NHS that the Prime Minister commissioned from Lord Darzi, the cancer surgeon and health minister. Lord Darzi's conclusions are due to be published just before the anniversary on July 5.

Mr Johnson said he hoped to encourage friendly rivalry between wards over which nursing team could achieve the best ratings.

The Government wants to publish each trust's overall nursing quality score, to inform patients when they are choosing where to be treated. The scheme will be piloted and first results are likely to emerge next year, according to the newspaper.

Mr Johnson said he had strong support from the Royal College of Nursing and health union Unison.

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