Scottish Government

Modernising Nursing in the Community

Joint Statement

Dear Colleagues

We wish to update you on progress being made to take forward the Community Nursing agenda in Scotland.

As you are aware, the Cabinet Secretary met with Union representatives on 22 June 2009. Since then there have been several very helpful meetings to ensure that arrangements are put in place for the three CHN Pilot Sites (NHS Borders, NHS Highland and NHS Tayside).

It has also been agreed that a Modernising Community Nursing Board be established which will have the broad remit of:

• Supporting NHS Boards across Scotland to modernise and develop community nursing services which meet the challenges of providing an NHS which is fit for the 21st century and ensures clear benefits for patients.
• Considering career development for registered nurses within the existing community nursing professions recognising existing work with this staff group.
• Providing a governance function for those Pilot Sites who wish to continue to test, in partnership, the CHN role until they have been evaluated.
• Ensuring an evaluation of the CHN role is undertaken.

Pilot Sites

It has been agreed that those practitioners in NHS Borders, NHS Highland and NHS Tayside who have either completed CHN transitional training, or are already undertaking further training for completion by the end of 2009 to develop and modernise community nursing services based on the 7 core elements of Community Nursing as identified within Visible, Accessible & Integrated Care, will be supported to continue with their education and will be evaluated. NHS Lothian will not participate in the evaluation of the CHN role but will continue to support the modernising agenda.

The lessons learned from the work within these Pilot Sites and elsewhere will make an important and valuable contribution to the future development of community nursing in Scotland and will feed back into the Modernising Community Nursing Board.

Evaluation Study

Options for the Evaluation Study have been reviewed in discussion with partnership and the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing has approved development of a new tender specification focused on both education and early impact of the role with a report due in late spring 2010.

The Way Forward

It is acknowledged that NHS Boards across Scotland are currently at different stages of reviewing community nursing services to ensure that the right skills are in the right place and it is important that they are supported to continue to move forward.

The new Modernising Community Nursing Board is being established to support the provision of high quality and effective care, address the key drivers for change and support the leadership and development of community nursing services. The Visible, Accessible and Integrated Care pilot project will become a Sub Group of the Modernising Board.

In conclusion our agreed aim is to work together and to provide world leading community nursing care for patients and communities in Scotland.

12 November 2009