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Cancer survival rates are increasing, resulting in more people living with treatment or disease-related side-effects. Cancer is now considered to be a long-term condition and patients can present with a wide range of physical, psychological and social needs. Community nurses often see people living with or after cancer, but are not always recognised as part of the cancer workforce. This article outlines a pilot of a ‘cancer in the community’ four-day teaching module for community nurses in South West London. The conclusion and recommendations make the case for community nurses to receive education on cancer as a long-term condition and highlight key learning points from the pilot.

There are currently 15 million people in England who have a longterm condition, which is defined as one which currently has no cure other than drugs and symptomatic management (Bennett et al, 2012). At present, the UK population is affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, and those with a long-term condition have been advised to selfisolate to prevent being infected by the virus (Department of Health [DH], 2020). This paper explores some of the effects of stress and anxiety with reference to Covid-19, as well as how the pandemic has affected the community nurse’s role.

During my 20-year career as a registered nurse, I have worked in a variety of settings, including district nursing, hospice and secondary care. I have always loved being able to care for patients at the end of life and personally, I have experienced several bereavements of close family members. My own experiences have made me passionate about ensuring we deliver the best care possible for our patients and families in the last year of life and into bereavement.

Malnutrition (or undernutrition) affects at least three million people in the UK (1.3 million are over the age of 65), with 93% of these living in the community (British Association for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition [BAPEN], 2018). Malnutrition has an estimated cost of £19.6 billion in England, with older adults (≥65 years) accounting for over 50% of this cost (Stratton et al, 2018). Malnutrition has adverse effects if unidentified and untreated.