Why NICE quality standards should be applied in practice.
Here, Nick Baillie, describes what quality standards are and who they are for, as well as how to get involved in their development.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) was established in 1999 and initially produced guidance, including technology appraisals and clinical guidelines for the NHS. Since this time, NICE has been asked to develop a range of other types of guidance, run different programmes of work, and support the implementation and use of its products. The scope of NICE has also been extended to cover the public health and social care sectors. Among all these developments, the NICE quality standards programme was established in 2009.
Product snapshot: NEW TWO-TONE COMPRESSION GARMENTS
medi’s World of Compression is now launching three fashion elements for mediven 550 flat-knit leg garments and toe caps in the UK. The new colours and patterns offer patients with oedema nine possible combinations. The fashion elements have already been distinguished with the iF Award in the 'Product Design' category, as well as the 2017 Red Dot Design Award.
Continuous maintenance therapy with medical compression garments can increase patients' quality of life. medi’s World of Compression healthcare concepts stand for product quality, reliable indication-adapted patient management solutions and a stylish look. These fashion elements in the treatment of oedema are now available for the first time ever. This helps to motivate patients even more to persevere with their maintenance therapy and thus achieve success.
With wound and skin care taking up a considerable part of general practice nursing time, the GPN 'nurse consultation' series follows the therapy chain for the management of patients with venous leg ulcers and looks at the skills needed to ensure safe, competent and professional consultations with patients.
Here, Helen Butterfield, leg ulcer/dermatology specialist nurse, Churchill Hospital, Oxford, looks at the third link, i.e. preventing the recurrence of venous leg ulcers and the importance of lifelong compression therapy to prevent wound breakdown, and the role that patient choice and self-care can play.
Long-term conditions: compression therapy and venous leg ulceration.
Compression therapy is the recommended treatment for the prevention and management of venous leg ulceration and lymphatic insufficiency (Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network [SIGN], 2010; Harding et al, 2015; Wounds UK, 2016). Various methods of delivering compression are used in the UK, including bandaging, hosiery and Velcro® wraps. Selecting the correct device can be challenging for clinicians. This article explores the different compression systems available to help general practice nurses (GPNs) make appropriate choices for their patients, i.e. an option which is acceptable to the patient and can be applied safely and proficiently.
Long-term conditions: skin care
Skin conditions are commonly seen by nurses in primary care. Not only do they have a significant impact on patient health and quality of life, they also have implications for healthcare resources, requiring long-term regular treatment. This article provides an overview of the anatomy and physiology of healthy skin, as well as outlining its primary functions. Managing common skin conditions such as psoriasis and atopic eczema is also discussed, alongside the various preparations that can help general practice nurses (GPNs) to maintain the patient’s skin integrity. A guide to the use of skin care treatments such as emollients, with particular emphasis on quantities and application technique, is also given.
Health promotion: influenza vaccination
Seasonal influenza places a substantial burden on the elderly population, with approximately 90% of UK influenzarelated deaths occurring in adults aged 65 years and over. Vaccination remains the best way of preventing influenza disease and it is particularly important for this age group. However, the seasonal influenza vaccines currently available in the UK confer suboptimal levels of immunogenicity and efficacy in adults aged 65 years and above, primarily due to immunosenescence, i.e. weakening of the immune system, which occurs with age. There is a clear need for more effective vaccines that induce stronger immune responses and provide higher rates of protection in the elderly. This paper addresses the issues around seasonal influenza vaccination in older adults, and provides best practice points for the general practice nursing community in managing the unique needs of elderly individuals.
Welcome to GPN’s ‘insight’ learning zone feature. By reading the article in each issue, you can learn about key principles of subjects that are vital to your role as a general practice nurse. Having read the article, evaluate your knowledge on this topic by answering the 10 questions in the e-learning unit; all answers can be found in the article. If you answer the questions correctly, you can download your certificate which can be used in your continuing professional development (CPD) portfolio as evidence of continued learning and contribute to your revalidation portfolio.
Here, Mia Skelly, talks about her role as a general practice nurse, as well as her involvement in strategic thinking and decision-making.
A list of current job vacancies, as advertised by Hallam Medical.
This summer has seen us celebrating 30 years of Education For Health, saying goodbye and good luck to our former CEO, Monica Fletcher, and extending a warm welcome to our new CEO, Dr Linda Edwards (see p. 8). Exciting times ahead, as we move into our next era.
Eight years ago I was thrilled to take up the opportunity to work at Education for Health, and now I feel privileged to also be taking on the role as editor-in-chief of this journal. As a GPN for over 20 years, I fully appreciate the imperative for keeping up to date and well informed. During the course of any one day, you can never be quite sure what problems will come through your door next. It’s what makes the role so interesting — but arduous too.
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