Community and district nursing services
Community and district nursing services
Inquiry5
The
Health, Social Care and Sport
Committee held an inquiry into
the activity of district nurse-led community nursing teams and the quality of
nursing care provided to people in their own homes.
This
short inquiry provided an opportunity to understand more about the data gaps,
the impact this might have on workforce planning, and the extent to which there
is a strategy for community nursing services which is aligned with the
direction of travel for health and social care as described in A
Healthier Wales.
Background
District
nurse-led community nursing services deliver care in patients’ homes. This can
support individuals and their families to manage their health, avoid
unnecessary hospital admissions, enable early discharge, and help maintain
independence. These services are likely to become an increasingly important
part of the NHS workforce, given the policy shift in care from hospitals to
community settings, and the increasing healthcare needs of an ageing population
and those with chronic conditions.
Despite
the recognised contribution district nurse-led community nursing teams could
make to the future delivery of healthcare, little is known about this
‘invisible’ service. There is no accurate picture – at national level - of the
number and skill mix of nursing teams, nor of the numbers and acuity level of
patients receiving care in their own homes. This is likely to have an impact on
the effectiveness of workforce planning. It’s not clear how community nursing
teams’ activity is measured and reported, or what performance or outcomes
measures are used to monitor the quality and safety of these services. There is
also a lack of information about children’s nurses working in the community
(district nursing is an adult-focused service).
Evidence sessions
Evidence session |
Date, Agenda and Minutes |
Transcript |
Video |
1. Royal College of
Nursing Wales Lisa Turnbull,
Policy and Public Affairs Advisor, Royal College of Nursing Wales Sue Thomas, Primary
and Community Care Advisor, Royal College of Nursing Wales Anwen Jenkins,
Senior District Nurse and Royal College of Nursing member |
|||
2. Representatives
of Local Health Boards Rhiannon Jones,
Director of Nursing, Powys Teaching Health Board Lesley Lewis, Head
of Nursing Primary Care and Localities, Cwm Taf University Health Board Jo Webber, Head of
Nursing for Primary and Community Division, Aneurin Bevan University Health
Board |
|||
3. Welsh Government Dr Andrew Goodall,
Director General for Health and Social Services / NHS Wales Chief Executive,
Welsh Government Professor Jean
White, Chief Nursing Officer and Nurse Director of NHS Wales, Welsh
Government Paul Labourne,
Nursing Officer, Primary and Integrated Care, Welsh Government |
Business type: Committee Inquiry
Reason considered: Senedd Business;
Status: Complete
First published: 08/02/2019
Documents
- Reports
- Report - Community and district nursing services
- Welsh Government Response PDF 271 KB
- Correspondence
- Additional information from Royal College of Nursing Wales - 23 April 2019 PDF 3 MB
- Letter from Welsh Government regarding Community and District Nursing Services - 25 April 2019 PDF 474 KB
Consultations
- Community and district nursing services (completed)