Date: Wed, 6 May 1998 23:52:57 +0100
Subject: For moderation - please can you verify for circulation thanks Sue.
From: "sue.fensom" <[log in to unmask]>
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Why are the Specialist Practitioners: Community Nursing in the Home-
District Nursing
Enabling others to erode their unique role?
Currently a consultative document has been issued from a local Health
Authority regarding the development of Intermediate Care Services,
encompassing the future of two community hospitals, the changing role for
district nurses and the changes in the two district general hospitals.
These proposals will erode the district nurse's role and the specialist
service it offers.
This short summary has been written to discuss what implications these
proposals will have on the future of the district nursing service. I would
like to hear from others where the District Nurses role is being eroded,
thus providing a substandard service for patients, by using unsuitably
qualified nurses.
What are the implications of the proposals to the District Nurse's role?
If the District Nurse, as the Specialist Practitioner, is to safeguard
their role and provide the expert quality service for which s/he is
qualified. It is deemed necessary to explore the implications on the
District Nursing service, in relation to the Health Authorities proposals,
in light of the government plans for the new NHS. Tony Blair, in the recent
white paper, New NHS: Dependable and Beyond (DOH 1997) which is suggesting
provision of opportunities for community nurses to lead and manage Primary
Care and shape the future health care.
Six questions are listed to raise the reader's awareness of the Specialist
Practice: Community Nursing in the Home-District Nursing:
1. How will the district nursing teams manage the extra workload?
2. Why is the district nurse as team leader enabling the unqualified
district nurse working as a staff nurse to assess the patient holistic
needs in the home?
3. Why are intermediate care teams, often not qualified District Nurses,
assessing patient's holistic needs in their homes?
4. Why was Specialist Community Practice: District Nursing in the Homes
introduced to the at degree level?
5. Are District Nurses working as specialist community nurse or are they
still picking up the pieces when other services are not able to fund the
appropriate care.
6. Have they not realised that they have to stand up and fight their
corner?
Conclusion
It appears from the above analysis of the Consultation Document that
improvements could be made to improve the nursing care to patients in the
home by providing the appropriately skilled practitioner. These will enable
District Nurses to lead the community nursing services forward into the
next millennium by being in the driving seat and shape health care. :
The District Nursing Team has traditionally been the nursing team
delivering expert nursing care to the patients, in their own home. Why
should other unqualified nursing teams erode this care? Let us stand up and
be heard as a unique specialist nursing profession.
References
Department of Health (1998) Our Healthier Nation: A Contract for Health
London HMSO
Department of Health (1997) The New NHS Dependable and Beyond London HMSO
While A (1998) Is health for all just around the corner? British Journal of
Community Nursing 3(3): 149
Sue Fensom
Senior Lecturer District Nursing
University of Luton
Britannia Rd Bedford MK42 9DJ
Tel: 01234 792696 E mail: [log in to unmask]
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