Frontline opposition to government plans to fine social services for delayed discharges is mounting, according to a major survey commissioned by Community Care and Nursing Standard magazines, writes Janet Snell.

More than two thirds of nurses – including nurses working in hospitals – and a massive 88 per cent of social care staff were against the introduction of fines.

Almost 1,700 readers of the two magazines took part in the survey aimed at gauging attitudes towards joint working.

Nurses and social care staff were united in their belief that the one thing that could make the biggest improvement to services for patients and clients was more resources.

Most respondents felt working relationships between the two groups were good or excellent, mainly thanks to communication and co-operation.

On the issue of pay, over half of those taking part felt differentials between the two professions were unfair. However, each thought the other earned more – although 41 per cent of nurses and 27 per cent of social care staff said they had no idea what each other earned.

An overwhelming majority (86 per cent) felt joint training was worthwhile, although only half said they had actually taken part in joint courses. Three quarters of the sample felt joint working had led to improvements in services.

Community Care editor Polly Neate said: "There is clearly a lot of enthusiasm about joint working and it's good to see that our readers support a closer working relationship between nursing and social care staff.

"The one area where our readers do seem to have a problem is with the top down micro-management of this government with its targets, performance indicators and blunt instrument policies like fining for delayed discharges."

Nursing Standard editor Jean Gray added: "There is a clear message from the survey that nurses are against fines, whether they work in the community or in the hospitals where delayed discharge may be causing problems.

"What's important is that patients do not suffer as a result of any fines imposed, and that they are not labelled 'bed-blockers' when in fact they are every bit as disadvantaged by delayed discharge as those waiting for a bed."

To download a copy of the survey click here .