Speaking at the Nurse Practitioner Association conference in Liverpool last week, Dr Peter Carter, the RCN's chief executive and general secretary, touched on the abuse and death of the 17-month-old boy known for legal reasons as Baby P in Haringey, London.

Dr Carter said: ‘I don't in any way want to excuse poor practice but it brings into sharp relief and focus that these are difficult jobs and we are not working in an environment of precise science.

'We must not assume because there has been a tragedy that an individual nurse or social worker is to blame.

'The media has it in its mind that someone screwed up and should get the sack. But at times like this we've got to be clear that if you want people to work in difficult areas you've got to be supportive.'

neil.durham@haymarket.com

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