Published: 15 June 2004
Clarification on "Community Matron" Role
The Community Practitioners' and Health Visitors' Association (CPHVA) is seeking clarification about the new role of 'community matron' that has been proposed by Health Secretary, John Reid.
The CPHVA welcomes the principle of a community matron as a case manager, as 'this builds on our vision for the future of district nursing services'.
However, the CPHVA would not be in favour of a community version of a modern hospital matron, as this would not be appropriate for the primary care role where the relationship between patient and provider is much closer.
Health Secretary, John Reid wants to have more than 3,000 senior nurses strategically placed in doctors' surgeries and health centres in England to act as "human search engines" to help patients - particularly those with chronic conditions such as asthma and depression - understand the best choices for treatment.
(One does wonder where the additional "pot" of experienced nurses will come from without impacting on existing staffing of community services).
Mark Jones, CPHVA's director said:
"While the CPHVA will be seeking more clarity from the Health Secretary about his proposals, we are in favour of the principle by which experienced nurses are able to work as case managers for people with chronic illness who often have complex needs.
This concept builds upon work already done to develop the principles contained within the Evercare program in the United States, which have already been tried out in a number of NHS trusts.
We welcome the opportunity to explore with government the potential to develop a successful UK model which recognises the skills and talents of expert nurses, not only as care givers, but as professionals best placed to guide patients in their take up of the most appropriate services.
Many district and practice nurses will already have the skills to undertake this role, and it is essential that steps are taken to identify them and liberate their talents in becoming community matrons, as well as bringing additional people into the service to work in this way.
It is heartening that John Reid sees the potential nursing offers in meeting the day to day challenges faced by people with long term and enduring conditions, so as to get the best from their lives with the help of an often complicated NHS. The CPHVA is keen to work with him to make community matrons an effective solution."
The CPHVA has already produced a blueprint for the future of district nursing District Nursing at the crossroads - a CPHVA perspective that has proved so popular, it has had to be reprinted.
One can but echo the message being put over by Mark Jones, in that the role(s) nurses play in keeping the NHS functioning has historically been underplayed, especially when it comes to both recognizing & using the skills & knowledge that experienced nurses possess.
My two caveats are:
- Will this initiative only be resourced through stripping out 3,000 experienced nurses from existing community health posts without them being replaced?
- Will the community matrons actually receive the financial rewards that this post warrants, or will they end up (as usual) taking on the responsibility without a commensurate increase in pay?
I am sure that we can rely on the CPHVA to monitor the situation, but one can only hope that the government will head their advice and not let political targets get in the way of successful implementation.
Further information
CPHVA website: www.amicus-cphva.org
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