Editorial Resources

Evidence indicates a growing demand on community healthcare professionals to manage lower limb wounds, with reported increases of almost 400% in workload for community nurses and 51% for general practice nurses (Guest et al, 2020). This places significant pressure on services provided by the National Health Service (NHS). In addition, the growing elderly population in the UK is likely contributing to an annual increase of approximately 12% in the prevalence of chronic wounds, with significant associated economic burden (Guest et al, 2020).

Access to expert clinical support for people affected by dementia across the spectrum of remote and rural to urban settings is not equitably distributed. This study explored an alternative nurse-led approach to this problem used in the Shetland Islands, to the north of the Scottish mainland. A purposive review of the literature set the scene and informed the objectives more fully, while giving shape to the research questions and preparing ground for data collection.

A degenerative neurological condition, Parkinson's has over 40 symptoms, from tremor and pain to anxiety. And it's on the rise. Today, someone in the UK is diagnosed with the condition every 20 minutes. And the number of people living with Parkinson's worldwide is predicted to double to 25 million by 2050 (Su et al, 2025).

The government's response to the growth of corridor care in our hospitals has focused on discharge, patient flow, and the need for trusts to make better use of their data (GOV.UK, 2026).

As we head into summer, this issue of the JCN will keep you busy. It is packed with informative articles, which aim to both support and prompt you to question your practice and make changes where necessary to enhance patient care. Our ‘Community matters’ piece discusses the increased life expectancy of our population and, due to this, the likelihood of more people living with long-term conditions. It explores the effect that this is currently having on the NHS and possible solutions, focusing on the community nurse’s role and how our holistic approach and knowledge of available local services can improve patient care. It also looks at our own health and the importance of making time to care for ourselves, which is essential if we are to stay well and ultimately enjoy our retirement.

Welcome to our spring issue of the JCN. I am sure that many of you are looking forward to the longer and warmer days. In this issue, our ‘Community matters’ feature focuses on the new cancer plan and it is certainly worth taking some time to read. It examines concerns relating to our cancer services, including performance targets, and draws comparisons with neighbouring countries. The ambition of the plan is discussed and, due to there being so many recommendations, themes are highlighted to support your awareness and understanding. While innovations specifically for the community are considered, the challenges associated with delivering these in practice are also acknowledged.

When it comes to health, nobody likes to hear the worst, but in your role as a community nurse you’ve probably grown used to delivering bad news. However, in the long list of conditions and diagnoses that you might have discussed with your patients, few engender
as much anxiety than what is often euphemistically referred to as the ‘C word’.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common bacterial infections managed
in community and primary care, with around half of women experiencing at least one episode during their lifetime (Foxman, 2014). The estimated prevalence of recurrent UTI in women in the UK is approximately 6% (Sanyaolu et al, 2023; 2024).

Foam dressings were among the earliest modern wound dressings introduced in the mid-1970s and represented a significant advancement at a time when limited options were available to  effectively manage the wound environment, particularly exudate control (Sussman, 2010; Hargis et  al, 2024). Today, foam dressings are widely used in clinical practice and are manufactured using  materials such as polyurethane (PU), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) or silicone-based formulations (Hedger, 2014; Wakefield, 2025).

A venous leg ulcer (VLU) as defined by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is a perforation in the skin in between the knee and ankle, which has not  resolved within a two-week period with the added complication of venous insufficiency (NICE, 2024).  VLUs are the most common type of leg ulceration with a 60–80% incidence rate (Atkin et al, 2024). The annual prevalence per population  of VLUs in the UK is estimated at 1.08% (Guest et al, 2020).