Editorial Resources

This month we have an extremely interesting and thought provoking 'Community matters' piece. Please take some of your precious time to read and digest.

A lthough we are all both constantly and consistently busy all day every day, I am sure you will agree that at this time of year demand on services escalates even further and the challenges we face increase even more. How can this be possible we ask, but each year it is!

s we are nearing the end of 2023, could I please take this opportunity to wish everyone
the very best for 2024. I cannot believe how quickly this year has passed — each year seems to go more quickly than the last. Before we leave 2023 and move into the new year, I would like you all to take some time to reflect on everything you have done this year — the many patients you have seen, the improvements you have made to care and your services, the challenges you may have encountered, the ‘thank you’ messages you have received and the enhancements you have made to so many people’s lives. It is always beneficial to reflect, as all too often we continue in our everyday work without having time to really think about everything we have achieved and the very real difference we have made. Please celebrate your work — you are appreciated so much.

I can still remember when I started my nurse training and attended my very first lecture introducing ethics into my nursing curriculum. I clearly recollect my concerns in relation to the enormity of the subject and wondered how I was going to relate the ethical principles to my daily practice. Years later, I often reflect on situations and feel that my own moral  principles and my need to respect others and their wishes has really supported my decisions.

On the 5th of July we celebrated 75 years of the NHS. It was an ideal opportunity for us
all to reflect on how the NHS has evolved and adapted over the years, and to remember how fantastic and transformative the NHS really is. I hope that everyone celebrated in
some way, and had the opportunity to attend some of the many events organised by the NHS and your places of employment. It is difficult to really comprehend how health care has changed since 1948, but I am so appreciative that it has and of the advances and opportunities that it has brought us all.

Taking a holistic approach and actively listening to patients is crucial in all patient encounters. It can allow you to understand patients’ concerns, values and the impact that certain behaviours or conditions might be having on their lives. Gambling disorder, often referred to as a ‘hidden addiction’ is, as Charles and Liz Ritchie point out (pp. 8–10), an extremely serious issue which can have devastating consequences for indiviuals and their families. As community nurses visiting patients in their own homes, we have a unique opportunity to identify signs of gambling harm and offer support. Clearly, it’s a topic that needs to be approached sensitively and without judgement, but recognising gambling disorder as a public health concern and addressing it within the context of a patient’s overall wellbeing can make a significant difference to their lives and the lives of those
around them.

Due to increased media attention that the menopause continues to receive, awareness has thankfully been raised around its possible effects and potential to have a negative impact on wellbeing. Many trusts are now providing information sessions that staff can attend to
improve their knowledge and how to access support, alongside sessions for managers to ensure awareness and that support is offered. I recently attended one and gained a great
deal from it, but on reflection was alarmed by how little I had known! So please, do take some time to read the ‘Community matters’ piece in this issue (pp. 8–11), as I am sure you will find it full of really useful information.

As we are all aware, the protection and regulation of everyone’s personal data is a legal requirement and a framework within which we must work every day. To support you to embrace the challenges surrounding this, do read this issue’s ‘community matters’
feature (pp. 8–11). It is all about GDPR and manages to simplify the subject and make it easily relatable.

As 2022 comes to an end, thinking back, I was hopeful this time last year that we would soon return to ‘normality’ post Covid. However, lives this year have been different and we have certainly encountered new and unexpected challenges. This issue’s ‘community matters’ piece (pp. 8–11) reflects on the cost-of-living crisis, which has become a serious issue for everyone and seems set to continue well into the new year.

The link between physical and mental wellbeing is widely recognised, especially for those with a long-term condition. Such conditions can have a marked impact on mental health, while poor mental health can exacerbate chronic illness, thus creating a vicious circle due to the connection between the body and mind. Community nurses
are well placed to care for those with long-term conditions, not just in terms of health promotion, putting preventative measures in place, encouraging self-care etc, but also to address more complex mental health issues, and maybe even needing to advocate for patients.