Opinion  

I have recently been very saddened by a situation I was involved with at a distance. A friend, who works outside the NHS, has a colleague whose wife has had cancer. Throughout her illness her husband would occasionally ask my friend questions to put to me, either to clarify information or find out if there was more he could do. 

One evening my friend phoned me. His colleague had told him at work that a district nurse had called the day before because his wife had weeping pressure sores. The nurse had said she didn’t have any dressings and left.

The husband was unsure what to do, or what was happening, and was distressed. I said I was sure the nurse had said when she would be back and that it would probably be the next day. I offered to help but they wanted to wait for the nurse.

As it turned out the nurse did visit the next day and, while I have no doubts that she did advise them when she would be returning, I found this case upsetting. The husband obviously did not understand what was happening and did not feel secure in his relationship with the nurse. Even though he was anxious, he worried about asking for what he needed and was prepared to just accept what was given.

I realise I have only been involved in this situation from a distance and only heard one side, but this is the story that was discussed in my friend’s office. This is now the view that 40 people have of the profession to which I am so proud to belong.

District nurses receive many compliments from patients and often go the extra mile. But most people learn about us through receiving our care. We need to ensure we all provide a high-quality, competent nursing service to patients so any stories relayed about people’s experiences are positive. 

Patients and the public will be very influential in determining which services are commissioned. We must not let the expertise and skill of the district nursing profession ‘wither on the vine’ because someone has misinterpreted what was meant by a nurse.

Our future is in our hands. District nursing is key to the care patients receive when they are most vulnerable, let’s ensure it is always there.

Barbara Stuttle CBE, chair of the Association for Nurse Prescribing and executive nurse, South West Essex PCT