Editorial Resources

The Leadership Education and Progress Scheme (LEAP, developed by the clinical
education department at Advancis Medical) involved six specialist clinicians in podiatry and tissue viability from five National Health Service trusts across the Northwest of England. The one-year scheme comprised soft skill modules, including leadership and management.

Cancer is more likely to be underdiagnosed and undertreated in people
with disabilities compared to non-disabled people, as shown by the Cancer Patient Experience Survey  (NHS England, 2021). Disabled people are more likely t experience stigma, discrimination and inaccessibility in  healthcare, including inequalities within cancer services such as physical inaccessibility and invalidation.

Not only is the UK’s population increasing, it is also ageing (Barton et al, 2024). Men make up 45.8% of the current population in England and Wales, which is approximately  62 million. In 2022, 19% of the population were aged over 65, but this figure is projected to double over the next 50 years. By contrast, 50 years ago, those aged  over 65 made up 13% of the population (Office for National Statistics [ONS], 2025).

The recent deaths of people with learning disabilities, directly as a result of constipation, have been highlighted in the media  (Devereux, 2023) and the issue persists for people with learning disabilities. It is important to remember that deaths from constipation are avoidable and it is a treatable and manageable condition. No person with a learning disability should die as a result of constipation.

Welcome to our first issue of 2026! Of course, none of us knows what this year will hold, both professionally and personally, but we hope that all the work undertaken by everyone at the JCN will continue to support you throughout.

This issue’s ‘Community matters’ piece focuses on frailty and how it is affecting community care. Frailty is high on the government’s agenda and the statistics quoted within this article demonstrate why. Have a read to understand exactly what is meant by frailty, review the different ways in which it can be measured and consider potential solutions. Frailty is generally having a major impact on our caseloads, but if we are able recognise it early and suggest/ implement supportive measures, it may help us in the long term

Welcome to our December/ January issue and I am sure that you, as I am, are all wondering where this year has gone and feeling that each year seems to pass faster than the previous one! Is it a sign of our age or reflective of our lives being so busy that the days, weeks and months merge? At this time of year, I always find it useful to take a little time to reflect, asking myself what I have achieved over the past year, could I have aimed higher and what differences have I made to patients’ experiences. It really is a useful approach to take and drives/guides me into the coming year. Please try it — acknowledge the highs and the lows, plan for the coming year and stay strong. Our ‘Community matters’ feature follows a similar concept — it reflects on our NHS and community nursing, discussing previous plans and asking: are we fit for the future? Please take some time to read the summarised main points of our new 10 Year Health Plan — it may support your own reflective practice and drive you into 2026.

As violence against nursing staff becomes more commonplace and the abuse suffered continues to increase, our ‘Community matters’ piece looks at whether violence specifically against community nurses is increasing. It discusses potential reasons for the rise in violence and abuse and the vulnerability of nurses working alone. Measures and processes that have been and are still taken to protect staff are explored, alongside their effectiveness. Remember to always report any instances of abuse, no matter how small and no matter how busy you are. Perhaps the most important section is the one headed ‘Relying on number one’ — please ensure that you read this and the advice offered. Take on board the recommended actions to support your safety at work and take all the precautions available to stay safe.

I hope you are enjoying the summer months and have managed to take some time away from work for yourselves. As always, this issue is filled with information to support your learning and development, challenge your practice and keep you up-to-date with current issues. Our ‘Community matters’ piece discusses how vitally important it is to support patients to take responsibility for their own health and to self-care. By educating, advising and working in partnership with patients, we can support them to make informed decisions and choices about their own health and promote self-care, ultimately enhancing health outcomes and reducing NHS pressures.

Welcome to our June/July issue, although as I am writing I am wondering just how we have arrived at June already! As always, there are lots of informative and interesting features, all of which we hope will support your learning and practice, leading to enhanced patient care. The ‘Community matters’ piece focuses on the delays our patients are encountering for dermatological services. Please take some time to read this article, which will give you an oversight into why the delays exist and the potential physical and mental effects these are causing. With the summer months upon us, it is particularly relevant that skin cancer is a focus — information is given around the rising rates and possible reasons for this. The feature discusses a variety of skin conditions and offers strategies and advice to support your patients — an interesting and informative read.

The ‘community matters’ feature in this issue is definitely worth taking time to read (pp. 8–12). It discusses student nurses and the value that each and every one of them brings to our practice and workplace. I am sure we have all felt an additional pressure to the ever increasing demands on our time and workload when we are allocated a student nurse to assess or supervise. There is no doubt about it — students can be challenging, but this is positive for us as well as our patients and workplaces. We are all continually learning and students are receiving knowledge based on the latest available evidence, which can support our own development. Their questions are a catalyst for reflection on our own practice and can instigate change, thus enhancing patient care. Remember — we have all been a student at some point in our careers and without the support, guidance and experiences we had, we would not be where we are today.