QNI responds to District Nurse workforce challenges

The number of District Nurses in England in May 2010 was 7,813; there are now 2,020 fewer.

Crystal Oldman, the QNI’s chief executive commented,

"The shocking figures… underline the reason why The Queen’s Nursing Institute has been running its ‘Right Nurse, Right Skills’ campaign…. We have consistently argued that more District Nurses are necessary if we are to avoid unnecessary hospital admissions, enable safe early discharges, and support an ageing population with complex long term health needs in the community setting."

In addition, the QNI is actively working on a number of projects to support District and other community nurses, including a new resource to support nurses new to the community , and drawing up a new workplace model for District Nursing

To read the editor’s interview with Ms Oldman go to the ‘Education & Societies’ section.