Health and Social Care

Integration from a Nursing Perspective

September 24, 2014 by Linda White No Comments | Category Uncategorized

“How important it is that we recognise and value every stakeholder’s contribution to [this] process.” RCN member

RCN Scotland, supported by the Scottish Government, recently ran an event about strategic commissioning for senior nurses.  After listening to the debate, a colleague from England observed that integration could, in practice, be far more radical than any reform south of the border.  There was a moment of silence as this sank in.

We have never been in any doubt here about the radical nature of these legal and cultural reforms to improve health and wellbeing outcomes.  But in the midst of revolution are complex relationships between real people who need care, people who offer care and people who decide on what care will be made available.

Understanding, recognition and respect in all these relationships will ultimately make or break the integration project. This has been our message since we published our Principles for Delivering the Integration of Care.

So in the rush to radical change, if we stop and listen, what contributions do nursing staff want recognised and respected?

• They are committed to offering high quality, safe care – and they have the expertise to help shape what “quality” looks like in this ever-more complex new world.
• They take seriously their professional accountability for delivering this care – so new structures, from localities to boards, must be set up to support them discharge their responsibilities meaningfully.
• Many already deliver well-integrated care with colleagues right across Scotland – though nurses might not always shout about the good work they do with their partners, patients and services users.
• They want the opportunity to shape radical change.

“We as nurses need to be involved; let’s influence to make things work for our patients; have the confidence know your worth and make a difference!” RCN member

For more information about delivering integration of care in nursing, please contact Elinor.Jayne@rcn.org.uk.

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