ABSTRACT
When palliative care expert Jane Carpenter's homeless cousin died in a traffic accident and a post-mortem revealed he had advanced cancer, she decided to make a difference for others like him.
Subject(s)
Right to Die , Health Services Accessibility , Health Services Needs and Demand , Ill-Housed Persons , Humans , Terminal Care , United KingdomABSTRACT
A King's Fund report published in May found overwhelming evidence of the beneficial effects of gardening on physical and mental wellbeing.
Subject(s)
Gardening , Health Promotion/methods , Mental Disorders/rehabilitation , Humans , United KingdomABSTRACT
Women wait decades for an accurate diagnosis of lipoedema. Earlier diagnosis is essential to prevent the condition progressing to lymphoedema, with its risk of life-threatening cellulitis.
Subject(s)
Lipedema/diagnosis , Lipedema/rehabilitation , Diagnosis, Differential , Disease Management , Early Diagnosis , Female , Humans , Lipedema/nursing , Lipedema/psychology , Swimming , United KingdomABSTRACT
Survival rates for people with brain cancer are poor, and some patients do not receive the specialist support they need. Nurse specialist Ingela Oberg calls for earlier diagnosis and improved access to nurse-led clinics and rehabilitation services.
Subject(s)
Brain Neoplasms/nursing , Oncology Nursing/standards , Quality of Health Care/standards , Brain Neoplasms/diagnosis , HumansABSTRACT
Juliet Ashton has a national role supporting CCGs to improve epilepsy services. Her role involves raising healthcare professionals' awareness of this complex and under-resourced condition, and working closely with clinical commissioning groups to redesign services and encourage investment.
Subject(s)
Epilepsy/nursing , Nursing Care/trends , State Medicine/trends , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Child , Child, Preschool , Epilepsy/epidemiology , Female , Forecasting , Humans , Infant , Male , Middle Aged , United Kingdom/epidemiology , Young AdultSubject(s)
Estrogen Replacement Therapy/methods , Menopause/drug effects , Female , Humans , United KingdomSubject(s)
Dementia/therapy , Quality of Life , Social Support , Dementia/psychology , Humans , United KingdomABSTRACT
Acutely ill cancer patients who present at A&E can receive inadequate care. Innovative acute oncology services are being introduced to fill gaps in emergency staff's knowledge and ensure rapid referral to appropriate care.
Subject(s)
Emergency Service, Hospital/organization & administration , Neoplasms/therapy , Oncology Nursing , Patient Care Team , Awareness , State Medicine , United KingdomABSTRACT
There is growing awareness that patients in intensive care can be severely stressed by their experiences and are at risk of developing mental health problems. A major trial, beginning in a London ICU, will test simple nursing techniques that may reduce patients' stress, and offer support to patients who are most affected.
Subject(s)
Inpatients/psychology , Intensive Care Units , Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/prevention & control , Humans , Nurse-Patient Relations , Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/etiology , United KingdomABSTRACT
Interventional radiology is a growth area for nurses. The micro-invasive procedures are safer for patients than conventional surgical techniques. They are also highly rewarding for nurses who enjoy working with technology and supporting patients, says specialist nurse Mary Donnelly.
Subject(s)
Radiology, Interventional , Specialties, Nursing , Hospitals, Public/organization & administration , Inservice Training/organization & administration , Referral and Consultation , State Medicine , United Kingdom , WorkforceABSTRACT
Traditionally, doctors have ordered blood transfusions, but nurses are learning to take on this role. Since his training last year, nurse practitioner and prescriber Steve Wright has been authorising blood transfusions on a surgical ward in a London hospital and seeing the benefits for patients.
Subject(s)
Blood Transfusion/nursing , Nurse Practitioners/organization & administration , Prescriptions/nursing , State Medicine/organization & administration , Humans , London , Nurse's Role , United KingdomABSTRACT
Physical activity during and after cancer treatment can alleviate symptoms such as fatigue, help patients retain their independence and reduce the risk of cancer recurrence and mortality. Nurses should encourage patients and survivors to keep active and prescribe exercise where appropriate.
Subject(s)
Exercise , Motor Activity , Neoplasms/therapy , Adaptation, Psychological , Humans , Neoplasms/psychology , Secondary Prevention , SurvivorsABSTRACT
A reorganisation of emergency services at Rochdale Infirmary has opened the way for a new kind of clinical assessment service. The short-stay unit provides a rapid diagnostic and treatment service. Nursing staff are encouraged to report concerns and put ideas for improvement into action.
Subject(s)
Ambulatory Care Facilities/organization & administration , Delivery of Health Care/organization & administration , Emergency Medical Services/organization & administration , Nursing Staff/organization & administration , England , HumansABSTRACT
Community matrons have complex caseloads and often work in isolation, supporting patients with chronic illness to stay out of hospital. In south London a community matrons network is helping senior nurses to establish links with one another, keep up to date and tackle variations in the quality of care they deliver to patients.
Subject(s)
Community Health Nursing , Social Support , London , State MedicineABSTRACT
The British Thoracic Society has issued national quality standards for the diagnosis, treatment and management of the chronic lung disease bronchiectasis. Despite being the third most common lung disease in the UK, the condition is often overlooked by clinicians. The new standards should help more patients manage the condition at home.
Subject(s)
Bronchiectasis/therapy , Practice Guidelines as Topic , Practice Patterns, Nurses' , Practice Patterns, Physicians' , Humans , United KingdomABSTRACT
A two-year project exploring lung cancer treatment services in England highlighted inconsistencies and an overly medicalised approach. The findings can help nurses tailor more effective lung cancer care for patients.
Subject(s)
Lung Neoplasms/diagnosis , Lung Neoplasms/therapy , Early Diagnosis , Humans , Lung Neoplasms/nursing , Nurse's Role , Quality of Health CareABSTRACT
A free online toolkit has been launched to increase nurses's awareness of liver disease and provide them with the information they need to support patients. The toolkit reflects growing concern about the increasing numbers of people in the UK who are dying from a largely preventable disease.
Subject(s)
Inservice Training/methods , Liver Diseases/nursing , Nursing Staff, Hospital/education , Humans , Liver Diseases/diagnosis , Nursing Diagnosis , Referral and Consultation , United KingdomABSTRACT
Women who have been treated for breast cancer can experience an early menopause or the return of symptoms such as hot flushes years after they have been through the menopause. Grateful to have survived cancer, they may be reluctant to seek help for menopausal symptoms. A breast cancer menopause clinic is providing tailored support.