Launch of District Nursing Framework

Date published: 27 February 2018

The district nursing service is well respected and a highly valued part of the NI Health and Social Care system.

The District Nursing Framework 2018 – 2026 paves the way for developing a world class service that is innovative, collaborative and transformed, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, no matter where the patient lives. This was the key message from the District Nursing Conference held on 27 February 2018 at Mossley Mill.

This regional event ‘Home, the First and Best Place for Care’, organised by the Department of Health and Public Health Agency recognised the valuable contribution of district nursing throughout NI at a time when there are increasing numbers of older people who have complex co-morbidities being cared for at home.

Launching the Framework, Professor Charlotte McArdle, DOH Chief Nursing Officer, said: “I believe this Framework sets the way forward for all of us to work together to deliver a world class district nursing service. I am confident that the implementation of the Framework will have a valuable impact on delivering safe and effective person centre care by district nurses and their teams in community settings.”

Continuing Charlotte said: “Moving forward District Nurses will have more focus on population health management. There will be an emphasis on improving clinical and care outcomes and people’s experience of that care, whilst supporting staff and optimising the resources available”

The District Nursing Framework has been co - produced and developed after extensive engagement with all key stakeholders and a comprehensive review of policy directions.

The NI launch of the Nursing Now Campaign, which aims to raise the status and profile of nursing, is being run in collaboration with World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Council for Nurses.

Nursing Now empowers nurses to take their place at the heart of tackling 21st century health challenges across the world.

Led by Lord Nigel Crisp the campaign launches globally on 27 Feb 2018 in London and Geneva.