With district nurses in crisis, this is Boris Johnson’s chance to prove his commitment to the NHS

The critical work of the nurses who deliver care inside patients’ homes is propping up the health service. Left struggling, the system will collapse

Thursday 26 December 2019 22:21 GMT
Comments
District nurses help support families caring for older and vulnerable people with complex diagnoses
District nurses help support families caring for older and vulnerable people with complex diagnoses

When our elected representatives want to play politics with the health service – something we saw more than a little of during the general election campaign – they throw unfettered praise upon the dedicated and undoubtedly “hard-working” men and women of the NHS. We saw it yet again in the Christmas messages of Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn; both men chose to praise the doctors, nurses and other public servants who eschew festivities with their own loved ones to dedicate their time to the service of others.

It seems, for the prime minister at least, that those sentiments are rather easier to say than to act upon. Nursing may be among the most respected professions – for many, it may be better described as a calling – but it is also ranked among the least well-funded. But current funding arrangements are not sustaining the important, and broad, role that nurses working in the community play in supporting the wider health service by keeping patients out of hospital corridors.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in