Alison While

Difficult times

‘… many despair of the media's negativity, which has left the general population concerned and anxious about every aspect of their lives.’ .

The COVID-19 challenge

‘Extreme events often herald new approaches, and, in the case of the NHS, the use of digital technology is coming into its own, both to promote the efficient use of resources and to minimise...

Managing heart failure

‘It is estimated that there are about 920 000 people living with heart failure in the UK, which exceeds the number with the four most common cancers combined and imposes a significant healthcare...

Hand and other hygiene practices

‘Role modelling good hygiene practices to students and others should be part of professional practice.’.

District nursing today

‘The lack of consistency regarding remuneration, clinical band, prescribing, role and job title undermines the public's understanding of the title ‘district nurse’.’ .

Cold homes in winter

‘Older people, and their carers and families, should understand the markers of malnutrition and be educated about the importance of good nutrition for health and wellbeing.’ .

Are sight and hearing undervalued?

‘Sensory loss has a profound impact upon the everyday lives of individuals.’ .

Challenges in influenza vaccination

Optimising medication

‘Community nurses can contribute to medication safety by helping to monitor high-risk medications and highlighting concerns regarding non-adherence to the relevant treatment guidelines.‘.

Reset for health creation

‘Demographic changes and the burgeoning population with long-term conditions necessitate that the neglect of health creation is addressed urgently to avert the inevitable consequences for both the...

Making care ‘personal’

‘The strategic priorities for community health services include improved crisis response and re-enablement care, providing ‘anticipatory care’, enhanced care in care homes and using digital...

Emergency department visits and hospitalisation

‘The evidence appears to suggest that the use of emergency departments and transfer to hospital could be mitigated if clients towards the end of their lives and their families feel well supported at...

Getting anticipatory prescribing right in end-of-life care

The Department of Health and Social Care (2012) developed ‘Vision and strategy: an approach to district nursing’, building upon the six Cs (care, compassion, competence, communication, courage and...

Do no harm

‘Hospital data for England have suggested downward trends for Clostridioides difficile and MRSA but upward trends for E. coli and methicillin-susceptible S. aureus.’.

Shared decision-making

“Shared decision-making is an ethical imperative, because it ensures information sharing and working in partnership and is associated with better outcomes.”.