This International Nurses Week (May 6th-12th, 2024), we at Eligo Medical join the global chorus in celebrating the incredible nurses who are the backbone of healthcare. The theme for this year is "the economic power of care", which highlights the need for nursing and nurse care to be seen as an investment, and perfectly captures the vital role nurses play in ensuring the well-being of patients globally.
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<h4 class="MsoNormal">A Legacy of Care: Florence Nightingale &amp; the Birth of Modern Nursing</h4>
The very concept of celebrating nurses has a rich history. It can be traced back to Florence Nightingale, the visionary founder of modern nursing.&nbsp; Nightingale's tireless efforts during the Crimean War (1854-1856) transformed healthcare practices by emphasising sanitation, hygiene, and patient-centred care.&nbsp; Her dedication to improving patient outcomes and her groundbreaking work in statistical analysis to measure the impact of nursing interventions laid the groundwork for the professional nursing we know today.
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<h4 class="MsoNormal">Celebrating Our Nurses:</h4>
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Aptos',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Aptos; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">We are incredibly fortunate to work with a network of talented, dedicated nurses who carry Florence Nightingale's legacy forward. Your compassion, skill, and commitment to patient care inspire us daily.&nbsp; We see firsthand the long hours you dedicate, the challenges you overcome, and the unwavering dedication you bring to your profession.
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<h4 class="MsoNormal">Our Commitment to Nurses:</h4>
At Eligo Medical, we understand the importance of empowering nurses. This extends beyond simply connecting you with job opportunities. We are committed to:
Fair Pay: We advocate for competitive compensation packages that reflect your expertise and dedication.
Flexible Schedules: We understand the value of work-life balance. We offer a wide range of flexible shifts to fit your needs and preferences.
Professional Development: We believe in continuous learning and growth. We actively connect nurses with relevant training and development opportunities.
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<h4 class="MsoNormal">Join the Celebration:</h4>
Are you a nurse seeking a new challenge or a flexible work arrangement? We have a wide range of Nurse Locum opportunities available! From positions in London and South East to the Midlands and North, we can help you find the perfect fit.  
<a class="primaryBtn" href="https://www.eligo.co.uk/jobs/#/medical" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Browse our latest nursing jobs</a>
<a class="primaryBtn" href="https://www.eligo.co.uk/contact-us/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a>
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Together, empowered nurses build stronger healthcare systems. Let's celebrate International Nurses Week and beyond!

Celebrating International Nurses Week: Empowering Nurses & Strengthening Healthcare

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Today (March 15) Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced his Spring Budget for 2023, from Investment zones and tax initiatives to AI &amp; Quantum Computing, we&rsquo;ve got a rundown of the measures and policies that will impact the technology sector.&nbsp;
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<h4>Investment</h4>
In his announcement, Hunt praised the growth and regeneration scheme success of Canary Wharf and Liverpool Docks, and so wants his new budget to create this success elsewhere in the UK.
The budget promised to create 12 new investment zones around the UK with 80m of funding allocated for each over five years.
The areas chosen will be centred around university tech hubs in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, offering employers lower national insurance contributions, lower business rates, and capital allowances for purchasing new machinery and equipment.&nbsp;
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<h4>Tax initiatives</h4>
For businesses outside of these investment zones, support and investment will also be provided in the form of 100 % first year capital allowances, allowing them to deduct the full cost of equipment from pre-tax profits.&nbsp; This plan is intended to soften the impact of the decision to raise corporation tax from 19% to 25% in the new financial year, but the chancellor has claimed that this will only affect 10% of businesses.&nbsp; The budget also will reform the UK&rsquo;s R&amp;D tax credit to include cloud computing and data costs from April 2023. This means that all cloud computing costs associated with R&amp;D, including storage, will qualify for relief. Hunt described this policy as a &pound;1.8bn package of support helping 20,000 cutting edge who day by day are turning Britain into a science superpower.&nbsp;
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<h4>AI &amp; Quantum Computing&nbsp;</h4>
Hunt announced enthusiasm for investment in new technologies such as Quantum Computing &amp; AI, putting forward a &pound;2.5 billon investment into this area. This will be a 10-year programme to take over the current &pound;1bn National Quantum Technologies Programme. The money will go towards training schemes for scientists, engineers, and technicians in the next-generation field.
 This action comes from recommendations from Sir Patrick Vallance and the independent Future of Compute Review which includes establishing an AI sandbox for innovators to test and try products before they go to market, clarifying intellectual property rules and building an Exascale Supercomputer. Alongside this Hunt added there will be an annual &pound;1m Manchester Prize (named after the first small-scale experimental machine built in Manchester.) for the most ground-breaking AI research. There are plans to fund centres for doctoral training, with the government planning to partner with academia and industry to create 1000 new AI PhDs. This will be backed by &pound;117 million of funding to create the PhDs, with further leveraging industry and university funding.
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More on the full Spring Budget 2023 <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/spring-budget-2023" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>
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2023 Spring Budget Impact on the Technology Sector 

We understand the complexities of the GP contract changes and their impact on daily operations for our Locum staff and the practices they work in. Eligo Medical is committed to supporting GPs and practices through these challenging times.
Feeling lost with the latest GP contract changes? We've got you covered.
Here's a simplified breakdown of the key points impacting practices in England and what&rsquo;s next:
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<img src="https://cdn.sourceflow.co.uk/2q0na9miztxtgha7jzz5nrdrfwud" alt="Woman Doctor Holding a mobile phone in both hands " width="600" height="338">
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<h4>Money Matters:</h4>
Funding increase: A small rise (2.23%) is planned, but it likely won't keep pace with inflation or rising patient numbers.Pay and staffing: The contract assumes a 2% pay raise for staff, but this might not cover actual increases, potentially impacting practice funding.
ARRS scheme: The scheme expands to include "enhanced nurses," though the exact definition remains unclear. Caps on "direct patient care roles" are lifted, but overall funding hasn't significantly increased. The BMA's push to include GPs in ARRS wasn't successful.
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<h4 class="MsoNormal">QOF Changes:</h4>
Good news: Aspiration payments for the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) will rise from 70% to 80%, improving cash flow.
Some protection: Income for disease registers and specific areas like mental health and cancer will be protected.
Mixed bag: While some workload-heavy indicators are protected, others are suspended with unclear details about future payment calculations.
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<h4 class="MsoNormal">Data and Continuity:</h4>
More data collection: Practices will need to provide data on call volumes and wait times, potentially leading to additional administrative burdens.
Focus on continuity: The contract emphasizes considering the continuity of care when responding to patients, but how this will be measured and enforced remains unclear.
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<h4 class="MsoNormal">PCN DES (Network Contract):</h4>
Simplification (maybe): Eight service specifications within the PCN DES are merged into one. The impact and purpose of this change are unclear.
Investment and Impact Fund (IIF): Funding priorities shift, with a focus on learning disabilities and cancer, while flu and access indicators are dropped.
Clinical Director role: Funding moves into core PCN funding, and responsibilities are redefined to emphasize service delivery coordination and supporting practice transformation.
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<h4 class="MsoNormal">Performance List:</h4>
More flexibility: Practices have more freedom to employ non-GP doctors already working for NHS trusts, but these doctors can't see undifferentiated patients (unlike physician associates).
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<h4 class="MsoNormal">What's Next?</h4>
In a strong rejection of the government's offer, the BMA GPC England has called the 2024/25 contract changes an "intentional, predetermined, strategic, non-evidence based, ideological dismantling of NHS general practice." They launched a referendum among BMA GP and GP Registrar members in England from 7-27 March to gauge the profession's views on the contract.
The referendum result won't prevent the government from imposing the contract but will send a powerful message. Dr. Katie Bramall-Stainer, BMA GPC England chair, believes the current offer fails to address critical issues like inflation and staffing shortages, potentially harming practices and ultimately, patients.
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Dr. Bramall-Stainer highlighted several key points in a letter to Jeremy Hunt:
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<li>Significant funding gap: GP surgeries have faced a 21.2% inflation rise since 2019, while the current offer represents a meagre 1.9% increase.</li>
<li>Shrinking workforce: There are 1,312 fewer GP practices compared to 2015.</li>
<li>High return on investment: NHS spending on primary care offers a 14x return on investment in terms of economic growth.</li>
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Dr. Bramall-Stainer urged Mr. Hunt for a "personal intervention" to explore solutions and stabilize general practice before the end of March.
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We'll keep you updated on the referendum results, potential industrial action, and resources to help clinicians and practices navigate these challenging times.
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Sources:
<a href="https://www.bma.org.uk/our-campaigns/gp-campaigns/contracts/gp-contract-202425-changes#:~:text=GPC%20England%20has%20rejected%20the,sure%20you%20have%20your%20say" target="_blank" rel="noopener">British Medical Association</a>&nbsp; <a href="https://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/analysis/2024-25-gp-contract/2024-25-contract-what-it-means-for-gps-and-practices/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pulse News</a> <a href="https://links.haymarket.mkt6316.com/els/v2/r-~asevNwDsG/dlBCRENLeUVMem9Xbm1XYjhjZEEyM2gzVjB2QS9OQ1RYOU9VTnZMdnNlQ3pIUnhJMG5Ja1Azam9xUnBCTDBCL1BaeGJxY1ZEb1FoOEMwNmhZa3VqV001R25YWDBZemwyZ1JYZE1FRDJRVmc9S0/dEhZQndXa3lMOHFTZ1E5cml0ZFJxZG9UOGo0VXdmcDdvZjdmYksvZkRPVGNWRE00TjJ4eFVRPT0S1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GP Online News</a> <a href="https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/arrangements-for-the-gp-contract-in-2024-25/#:~:text=There%20will%20be%20an%20overall,GPs%2C%20and%20other%20practice%20staff" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NHS England</a>