Comment Resources

A virtual cow’s milk allergy group has been helping families in Kent get faster access to advice and support. As parents and carers can be seen together, rather than waiting for individual appointments, the initiative has reduced waiting times, meaning quicker access to vital feeding and weaning advice during a baby’s first few months. This also means that parents spend less time worrying. As well as increasing capacity in the clinical nutrition and dietetics team at Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust (KCHFT), the virtual group has won national recognition — winning the sustainability award in the Clinical Nutrition Magazine Awards 2023, as families do not have to travel for appointments and fewer letters need to be sent out, making healthcare more sustainable and reducing its impact on the environment. Here, highly specialist paediatric dietitian and team leader, Elaine Greenman, shares how and why the group was set up, what the group sessions involve, and the challenges the team has found along the way.

Here, Nicki Haywood, founder and director, The Honeycomb Foundation community interest company (CIC), shines a spotlight on loneliness and social isolation in the workplace and explains why acknowledging it, both as a common experience and health concern, is a way to start tackling it. Please note that personal information about bereavement is included that some readers might find difficult.

Here, Carole Young, professional nurse advocate, independent tissue viability nurse consultant and associate lecturer, Anglia Ruskin University, reflects on the impact of the pandemic on specialist nurses in the last two years and considers what is needed next in terms of support and recovery of self and service. The role of compassionate leadership and professional nurse advocacy (PNA) will be discussed to share an understanding of how restorative clinical supervision (RCS) can be used to support emotional recovery and plan for future development. Models including A-EQUIP and the GROW coaching model used by PNAs to guide RCS will be explained as tools which can support personal reflection and recovery through personal actions for quality improvement.

The Covid-19 pandemic prompted changes in the ways that individuals access healthcare services and accelerated the transition to digital methods of care. For some, this opened doors for easier and more convenient access. For people already experiencing exclusion and marginalisation however, digital access can create additional barriers for accessing health care.

Here, the authors, who all work at Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust (see below), look at the definition, data and principles of recognising and supporting victims of domestic abuse among service users. They also explore how staff in their trust are equipped not only to address issues of domestic abuse and violence with patients, but also to support employees who themselves are going through these experiences.   

Here, Davina Richardson, children’s specialist nurse, Bladder & Bowel UK, looks at the guidance available for school leaders, proprietors, governors, staff and practitioners to help them better support children and young people with bladder and bowel issues as they return to school.

Here, Samantha Dorney-Smith, homeless health programme lead, Queen’s Nursing Institute (QNI); nursing fellow, Pathway; outreach nurse, Doctors of the World; secretary, London Network of Nurses and Midwives Homelessness Groups, looks at inclusion health, the groups and numbers involved, morbidity within those groups and the lack of access to services. She also explores the impact that the pandemic has had on health inequalities and introduces some nurse-led interventions which have enabled better access to services during Covid-19.

Here, Pauline MacDonald, independent consultant nurse; managing director, Infection Matters, talks about the COVID-19 vaccination programme, with some useful information to help community nurses feel confident and competent to discuss vaccination with their patients, relatives, friends and colleagues.

Claire Campbell, chair of the National Nurses Nutrition Group (NNNG) and nutrition support nurse specialist, Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, looks at how community nurses can help to tackle malnutrition and identify those most at risk.

The increase in dementia diagnosis and the recognised negative outcomes of acute hospital admission for this patient group, has led to a call for improved community care for people with dementia and their families. Primary care organisations are now exploring ways in which to provide high quality dementia care from peri-diagnosis through to end of life. Here, Emily Oliver, consultant Admiral Nurse and Victoria Lyons, senior consultant Admiral Nurse, explain how Dementia UK is supporting primary care networks (PCNs) to do this through the provision of Admiral Nurses.

(Emily Oliver: emily.oliver@dementiauk.org, @emilyoliverdem; Victoria Lyons: victoria.lyons@dementiauk.org, @viclyons)