This story was first published in digitalhealth.net
Dwindling numbers of district nurses risks elderly, King’s Fund says
A review by the King’s Fund has warned that unmanageable workloads within the district nursing service in England is leaving the frail and vulnerable at risk.
The report highlighted that there had been a significant drop in nurse numbers, which had lead to delays in service and burn out among staff. District nurses provide support to the homes of patients who are elderly and those with disabilities and long-term illnesses.
Data showed nurse numbers had fallen by 28 per cent in the past five years to just under 6,000.
Anna Charles, of the King's Fund, said: "For years health service leaders have talked about the importance of providing more care in the community, but this objective cannot be achieved when district nursing is at breaking point.
"It is even more troubling that this is happening 'behind closed doors' in people's homes, creating a real danger that serious failures in care could go undetected because they are invisible."
A spokeswoman for the NHS commented: "We recognise the hard work of district and community nurses and the pressures many are feeling as they continue to provide valued and high quality care for patients."
Latest News
16/02/2024 - 12:56
Hammersmith and Fulham Council has created a new alliance intended to clean dirty air and improve residents' health.
16/02/2024 - 10:44
Two million more GP appointments a month are being delivered for patients compared to the same month before the pandemic as part of the NHS primary care access recovery plan according to new NHS data.
15/02/2024 - 10:26
The Welsh Government has provided innovation funding of £380,000 to support two projects utilising technology in domiciliary care.
15/02/2024 - 10:13
The new Scottish health secretary has met with frontline staff at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow.
14/02/2024 - 10:27
The North East London NHS Foundation Trust (NELFT) has appointed three new Executive Directors to the Trust Board.
Product Features
UK Building Regulations highlight toxic gas and smoke from layers of paint built up over multiple redecorations as a major cause of permanent ill health or death in a building fire.
Their concern rose with discovery the flame retardant paints most widely used paint along escape routes have been ones which to this day counter-productively use emission of heavy toxic gas to smother flames which rapidly spread along walls if layers of paint delaminate in a fire.
Supplier Profiles
Northwich’s Victoria Infirmary (VIN) Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) has enabled more patients
Adveco, the commercial hot water specialist, announces the launch of live metering of domestic ho
Latest Features
Sarah Greenslade, public affairs and communications officer at the British Parking Association looks at some of the problems and innovations in healthcare parking
It’s easy to assume that the comms team is there to handle press enquiries and the occasional social media storm – but the reality is that strategic communications can make a measurable impact across the entire organisation, from operational to financial, when done properly
