RESEARCH by Redditch based nursing charity Cavell Nurses’ Trust has found that nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants (HCAs) are twice as likely as the public to suffer financial hardship and deprivation.
In his recent Autumn Statement, Chancellor Philip Hammond promised help for JAMs – those households who are “just about managing” to avoid poverty – and undoubtedly these households contain nurses, midwives and HCAs struggling to make ends meet. According to the government Resolution Foundation think tank, JAMs are made up of six million working-age households on low to middle incomes, spread right across Britain.
Cavell Nurses’ Trust is the charity that gives money and support to these nursing professionals when they are experiencing financial hardship and their survey asked 2,200 nurses about their experiences of illness, domestic abuse, disability and older age.
They found that more than half (55 per cent) surveyed couldn’t afford to replace broken furniture like beds and that nearly one in five (19 per cent) couldn’t afford to own two pairs of all-weather shoes, things that many people take for granted.
Recently, the charity has seen a rise in calls for help to its town centre office. “Sixty percent more people asked for our help in November compared to August.” says chief executive John Orchard, “It’s very clear that too many nursing professionals are facing hardship on a daily basis. We think this is appalling.”
Midwife Ruth was one of the nursing professionals helped by Cavell Nurses’ Trust. She said: “As a single mum, working 15 hours a week just wasn’t manageable. I also got a job in a local café but it still wasn’t enough. I needed to pay my rent, make sure my son was all right and it was just before Christmas.”
Cavell Nurses’ Trust helped Ruth and her son to stay in their home and ensured she was able to continue working as a midwife.
Anyone wishing to read the Cavell Nurses’ Trust report “Skint, Shaken Yet Still Caring: but who is caring for our nurses?” and take action can visit https://www.cavellnursestrust.org
Find out more about getting involved here https://www.cavellnursestrust.org/ways-you-can-help
