Community nurses, midwives and health visitors serve the population of more than 3 million people in Wales. They meet the health and nursing needs of all age groups and in all locations outside hospital environments such as at home, schools, surgeries, clinics and care homes. They are central to the Government’s aim to reduce the number of unnecessary admissions to hospital and increase early discharges from hospital. People needing community-based support can be sicker or have more complex needs than ever before.

The RCN has submitted its response  to a DHSSPS consultation on a community resuscitation strategy  for Northern Ireland. The strategy aims significantly to increase the number of people with CPR skills in order to provide assistance to people who suffer an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, thus increasing their chances of survival. In its response, the RCN welcomes the draft strategy but makes a number of suggestions for strengthening it, particularly in respect of securing ownership within communities.

Nursing leader backs Children and Young People Bill amendment on health visitors.

On the 7th January, MSPs debated whether health visitors should be the ‘Named Person’, i.e., the individual who provides first line support and advice for children aged 0 – five. The RCN Scotland is backing an amendment to the Children and Young People Bill to explicitly state that the health visitor should be the Named Person for this age group, following on from the midwife in the very first days of a baby’s life.