Have Your Say

CARL SARGEANT AM HIGHLIGHTS CONSULTATION ON COMMUNITY NURSING
Carl Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside, is inviting constituents to have their say on a new consultation on a plan to strengthen community health services to support the care of individuals in, or close to, their own homes.The main recommendation of the Community Nursing Strategy is to introduce new locality based nursing teams that address the needs of patients across the spectrum from ill-health prevention to the management of complex needs.Features of the proposed model include:• Every patient to have an identified case manager who will be responsible for care co-ordination. • An increased number of independent, non-medical prescribers in the community workforce. • The provision of out-patient nurse led clinics held in community settings where specialist nurses can see patients, have access to rapid diagnostics and referral rights and are independent prescribers. • An increase in the number of nurses trained in psychological and social therapies as well as improved access to these services across Wales. The proposed strategy which includes 43 recommendations in total has been devised based on a report of the Community Nursing Strategy Working Group which was chaired by the Royal College of Nursing and involved a range of stakeholders. Mr Sargeant said: “Community nurses have a wide role to play, from helping people prevent ill health through promoting and assisting with healthy living, right through to the provision of end of life care. “The work of community nurses is also incredibly valuable because they can help minimise the impact of chronic conditions on secondary care and care homes by increasing self-management of conditions and helping patients maintain as much independence as possible.“The Assembly Government’s Community Nursing Strategy for Wales explores how our vision for the successful delivery of primary care in the community can be achieved. The strategy relates to all nurses, midwifes and specialist community public health nurses who work in a community setting including those who work in mental health and learning disability.”The consultation will last 16 weeks. To find out more and to have your say, visit: www.wales.gov.uk