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Reflections Assessments should focus on establishing how, not if, a person with learning disabilities communicates
Like nurses, education must adapt to changes in care, says Janet Finch Nurses and midwives will play a vital role in meeting the health challenges of the future. While it is impossible to foresee all the ways in which practice will change over the next decade, we do know that nurses and midwives will be working with an ageing population, with more community-based services and growing public expectations. It is therefore vital that degrees in nursing and midwifery provide graduates with a solid foundation of skills and knowledge on which they can build throughout their careers. My background is in higher education, so I am familiar with the excellent and innovative work going on in this sector to provide high quality education for undergraduate nurses and midwives. But, as emphasised in the recent Shape of Caring review of nurse and healthcare assistant education and training in England, we have to continue to adapt and improve in response to changes in the environments in which care is delivered. The Nursing and Midwifery Council has an important role in responding to these changes, and making sure the standards are modern and effective. The need for up-to-date standards applies not only to pre-registration education, but also to continuing professional development as part of revalidation. The NMC is reviewing the review’s recommendations and will engage with individuals and organisations across the UK in its evaluation of standards. Many of these recommendations will promote debate, and I look forward to these discussions in the coming months. Dame Janet Finch is chair of the Nursing and Midwifery Council
Why it’s good to talk People with learning disabilities are still being put at risk by inadequate hospital care, warns Owen Barr In 2004, a National Patient Safety Agency report highlighted that one of the highest risks to the safety of people with learning disabilities is their vulnerability in general hospitals – second only to being physically restrained. Eleven years on, there are many great examples of innovations in care for people with learning disabilities in hospitals, such as hospital passports and learning disability liaison nurses. But limitations in service provision and major safeguarding risks remain. An increased recognition of the rights of people with learning disabilities and a willingness to provide health services – along with successes in supporting women in pregnancy, children with complex health needs and older people – have contributed to an increased life expectancy among people with learning disabilities. This means that a greater number of people with learning disabilities are living with complex health needs,
which often means regular contact with general hospital services. A review of the implementation of regional guidelines on caring for people with a learning disability in general
Real concern Don’t judge the worried well, says Jane Bates I Googled some symptoms recently and frightened myself half to death by the stack of differential diagnoses that popped up. Of course I am sensible and knowledgeable enough not to freak out (honest), but it made me understand how those with a tendency to anxiety are vulnerable to all this easily accessible information. We used to call people who were overly preoccupied with their health hypochondriacs. Now the internet makes things far worse: the worried
26 march 18 :: vol no 29 :: 2015 STANDARD Downloaded from29 RCNi.com by ${individualUser.displayName} on Aug 07, 2016. For personal use only. NoNURSING other uses without permission. Copyright © 2016 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
VOICES
Reflections Assessments should focus on establishing how, not if, a person with learning disabilities communicates
Like nurses, education must adapt to changes in care, says Janet Finch Nurses and midwives will play a vital role in meeting the health challenges of the future. While it is impossible to foresee all the ways in which practice will change over the next decade, we do know that nurses and midwives will be working with an ageing population, with more community-based services and growing public expectations. It is therefore vital that degrees in nursing and midwifery provide graduates with a solid foundation of skills and knowledge on which they can build throughout their careers. My background is in higher education, so I am familiar with the excellent and innovative work going on in this sector to provide high quality education for undergraduate nurses and midwives. But, as emphasised in the recent Shape of Caring review of nurse and healthcare assistant education and training in England, we have to continue to adapt and improve in response to changes in the environments in which care is delivered. The Nursing and Midwifery Council has an important role in responding to these changes, and making sure the standards are modern and effective. The need for up-to-date standards applies not only to pre-registration education, but also to continuing professional development as part of revalidation. The NMC is reviewing the review’s recommendations and will engage with individuals and organisations across the UK in its evaluation of standards. Many of these recommendations will promote debate, and I look forward to these discussions in the coming months. Dame Janet Finch is chair of the Nursing and Midwifery Council
Why it’s good to talk People with learning disabilities are still being put at risk by inadequate hospital care, warns Owen Barr In 2004, a National Patient Safety Agency report highlighted that one of the highest risks to the safety of people with learning disabilities is their vulnerability in general hospitals – second only to being physically restrained. Eleven years on, there are many great examples of innovations in care for people with learning disabilities in hospitals, such as hospital passports and learning disability liaison nurses. But limitations in service provision and major safeguarding risks remain. An increased recognition of the rights of people with learning disabilities and a willingness to provide health services – along with successes in supporting women in pregnancy, children with complex health needs and older people – have contributed to an increased life expectancy among people with learning disabilities. This means that a greater number of people with learning disabilities are living with complex health needs,
which often means regular contact with general hospital services. A review of the implementation of regional guidelines on caring for people with a learning disability in general
Real concern Don’t judge the worried well, says Jane Bates I Googled some symptoms recently and frightened myself half to death by the stack of differential diagnoses that popped up. Of course I am sensible and knowledgeable enough not to freak out (honest), but it made me understand how those with a tendency to anxiety are vulnerable to all this easily accessible information. We used to call people who were overly preoccupied with their health hypochondriacs. Now the internet makes things far worse: the worried
26 march 18 :: vol no 29 :: 2015 STANDARD Downloaded from29 RCNi.com by ${individualUser.displayName} on Aug 07, 2016. For personal use only. NoNURSING other uses without permission. Copyright © 2016 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
