Psoriasis can be a long-term condition, which is a significant problem for approximately 2% of the UK population. Recent NICE guidance on the treatment of psoriasis provides much-needed advice and reminds clinicians of the importance of assessment (both physical and psychological) and of talking to patients about side-effects and mode of action. Primary care nurses are in a great position to work with patients to ensure that they have the optimum treatment regimen, and that they have realistic expectations as to how it will work. An optimum regimen should always include an emollient, a topical product to treat plaques on the body along with topical products for scalp, face and flexures as necessary.
Rebecca Penzer, Community Dermatology Specialist Nurse/Clinical Lead Community Dermatology, Community Nursing and Therapy Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust
This article describes an initiative in which the Good Care Group and Dementia UK formed a unique partnership that enables specialist dementia care services delivered by a highly qualified Admiral nurse to be provided to clients, families and professional carers in home care settings. Admiral nurses are specialist mental health nurses supported by Dementia UK, and the Good Care Group is the only home care provider to offer this service to its clientele. Admiral nurse support clearly improves quality in the delivery of live-in care provision; support that is substantially beneficial for community nurses and other healthcare professionals.
Zoe Elkins, Head of Care Strategy, The Good Care Group;
Ian Weatherhead, Lead Nurse, Admiral Nursing Direct, Dementia UK
The senior level gained by advanced nurse practitioners (ANPs) means they are in a strong position when it comes to representing the population. Nurses have had to educate themselves beyond post registration with Masters and Doctorates to support the client group, because of the growing population and 24-hour healthcare requirements. This is in support of the NHS’s commitment to care for patients from the cradle to the grave. There have been obstacles to the ANP’s advancement, but the five drivers of heath care are firm and supportive and likely to have a great impact in the future for ANPs as service deliverers.
Elizabeth Haidar, Senior Lecturer, Non Medical Prescribing Programme Lead, Middlesex University, London
In 2010, Andrew Lansley, Secretary of State for Health, pledged that the public would be at the heart of everything that is done within the NHS — not just as beneficiaries of care, but as participants in shared decision-making (Secretary of State for Health, 2010).
Anita Fatchett, Associate Senior Lecturer Nursing
Liz Clark, Principal Lecturer
Dawn Taylor, Senior Lecturer, Health Visitor Course Leader, all at Leeds Metropolitan University
Why does incontinence continue to lag behind many other key healthcare conditions, despite being a massive public health issue? There is a vast literature base that informs us that incontinence can affect men, women and children at any age, and that even slight incontinence can have a severe impact on quality of life for individuals and carers.
Sharon Eustice is a Nurse Consultant at the Bladder and Bowel Specialist Service, Truro, Cornwall
As government reforms seek to encourage health and social care professionals to work closer together, Jason Beckford-Ball and Binkie Mais investigate what this means for community nursing services.
In each issue of the Journal of Community Nursing we investigate a hot topic currently affecting our readers. In this issue, we take a look at end of life care and ask the question...
In recent years healthcare in the UK has focused on the numbers, with targets taking priority over patient experience. Jason Beckford-Ball investigates the effects on services and asks where we are heading in the future...
A recent Queen’s Nursing Institute (QNI) event in London looked at ‘healthcare at home’ and the JCN was there to see what the future holds for nurses tasked with providing more care in patients’ homes.
