In 1987 Margaret Lee, the RCN Advisor on the Practice of Nursing, presented a paper at the annual AE and tools are used to measure workload relying on tasks. The result is the worrying trend of replacing nurses with ever-increasing numbers of support staff. This ensures that there is less time to form the relationships our unique role hinges upon. The need to save money leads policy makers down paths exploring options of develop ing new roles or altering the boundaries of existing ones. The reduction in junior doctors’ hours has meant that others will have to do their work. The search is on to find workers who can relieve the doctors of tasks which will not threaten their autonomy. It hasn’t been a difficult search, the largest group of healthcare workers are poised to unreservedly adopt these tasks. Funding this extension to the role will be from the group’s existing budget, per-