Frontline nursing services must be protected

Editorial Department • Published 21 Apr 2011 13:00 0 Comments

A recent meeting of the Local Commissioning Group, the organisation that replaced the Western Health Board in commissioning or purchasing health services for people here, highlighted the continued and additional pressures local district nurses are under with the increased specialisation of nursing roles.

It heard that the increasing number of specialist roles for nurses across the Western Trust has in turn brought heavier workloads and greater pressures for community nursing. There is a perception that an increasing workload was falling on an ever reducing number of generic nurses

There is the fear that additional workloads could leave nurses within the Western Trust feeling exhausted.

The Group, part of the HSB (Health and Social Care Board), also heard that this Trust and its predecessor had neglected the district nurses working here. On the ground District Nurses feel the increase in specialised nurses means another layer of people dumping on them. Staff are under pressures and are facing great demands.

District Nurses are the backbone to the service. They are the point of contact for so many people within the community to their health service.

A Review into District Nursing, commissioned by the Chief Medical Officer for Northern Ireland considering the future direction and development of the service in Northern Ireland is pending.

While this review must take into account the changes in society -- an ageing population and an increasing demand on public services -- we must hope that it recognises the role of these community health champions.

Their input has been celebrated and recognised by GPs working alongside them and their efforts are recognised by the many they help.

This review must recognise the importance of this frontline service and protect these essential workers.

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This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 21 Apr 11

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