Nurses in primary care have for many years drawn up insulin syringes in advance so that patients with diabetes who are unable to use an administration device, or who have some other impairment that prevents them doing this for themselves are able to take the pre- prepared insulin and self-administer. This has helped patients maintain their independence and has reduced the need for multiple visits from nursing teams that may not be convenient to the patient, as well as being time consuming for the team.
Currently in the UK there are almost seven million carers — that is one in ten people (Carer’s Trust, http://bit.ly/1QNAWZZ) — who perform a vital role in enabling people to lead independent lives in their own homes. To help nurses in primary care support these carers, the Queen’s Nursing Institute (QNI) has launched two new resources (online educational modules to help nurses support carers). These new resources are one of the main results of the QNI’s ‘Carers project’, which ran throughout 2014 with support from the Department of Health (DH).
Five-year plan aims to improve cardiovascular care for all. Sara Askew on the British Heart Foundation's five-year strategy to 2020, and the development of an alliance of healthcare professionals working with people at risk of or living with cardiovascular disease.
Working towards an end to Female genital mutilation (FGM).
FGM is a violent and damaging ritual, which, although illegal in the UK, remains a major challenge for healthcare professionals. This is in part due to the multicultural nature of our contemporary society and greater emphasis and commitment by women and professionals including the police, health and social care and government to eradicate it (Royal College of Midwives [RCM] et al, 2013).
Peter Lane gives his views on what he sees as an unparalleled workforce crisis for general practice nurses
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