The current state of district nursing reminds me of the Rocky films of the 70s and 80s, where the plucky young boxer repeatedly climbs off the canvas to battle on while taking hit after hit, seemingly oblivious to pain and humiliation. While district nurses might not view themselves as heroes of the silver screen, the way they have absorbed blow after blow in recent years but continue to turn up and provide a service for patients deserves a Hollywood script all of its own.