Chronic care in the community instead of hospital is not a "no cost" option

Commenting on the governments plans to reduce the number of A&E admissions by treating patients with chronic illnesses in the community, Anne Duffy, Director of the Community and District Nursing Association (CDNA), said:

“Our members will welcome this announcement, having always supported better management of chronic disease. It places community based care even more at the heart of future healthcare provision. However the government must ensure that adequate funding in place to increase workforce capacity to meet this new demand on community nurses.

Commenting on the governments plans to reduce the number of A&E admissions by treating patients with chronic illnesses in the community, Anne Duffy, Director of the Community and District Nursing Association (CDNA), said:

“Our members will welcome this announcement, having always supported better management of chronic disease. It places community based care even more at the heart of future healthcare provision. However the government must ensure that adequate funding in place to increase workforce capacity to meet this new demand on community nurses.

“This shift towards community care is intended to save money for the NHS, however the CDNA would like to remind Mrs Hewitt that while it may be a low cost solution but it is not a no cost solution. The level of funding required to achieve a smooth transition of services does not make this a cheap alternative.

Community nursing has major staff retention issues, due to large numbers of community nurses retiring and a failure to attract newly qualified younger nurses. Nurses are currently waiting for their new pay award announcement and this will be crucial to attracting staff into this aspect of nursing and the ultimate success of this new approach to the care of those with chronic illnesses.

The CDNA will be monitoring these developments very closely to ensure that our members, and everyone providing social and nursing care in the community, receive a fair reward for the increased duties to which these plans will undoubtedly lead.”

Ends

Notes for Editors

1. The CDNA is a specialist trade union representing nurses, healthcare assistants and all other primary care practitioners working within the community.
2. The CDNA is involved in various campaigns for community practitioners, recently leading the way on nurse safety in the workplace, 24 hour Community Team Care, 'bullying and harassment' and 'postcode prescribing'.

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