Resources

Purple urine bag syndrome (PUBS) is reported to be a rare condition that occurs in people who have catheters, chronic constipation and bacterial urinary tract infection (UTI). While in most cases it is harmless, the purple colour of the urine (a result of the breakdown of tryptophan, an amino acid found in food, in the intestines by gut bacteria) can be alarming. The priority is to address any underlying infection and maintain good catheter hygiene. Much of the literature focuses on symptomatic treatment. This paper, based on a case history, uses a more holistic approach to explain what PUBS is, why it occurs, and how it can be treated.

This article explores the development of mental health first aid (MHFA) training and how the principles of first aid can be applied with a person experiencing mental health distress. MHFA was designed to reduce mental health stigma and improve the public’s awareness, but is suitable for nurses to complete to enhance their first aid response to both physical and mental health situations. This article seeks to encourage nurses to undertake MHFA training.

Parkinson’s disease at the end of life can present unique challenges both for patients and those caring for them. This article offers a guide for community nurses to understand the complexities of Parkinson’s disease and the importance of managing end-of-life care. Parkinson’s disease progresses differently for each individual and, as it advances, symptom control, especially regarding pain, motor difficulties and non-motor symptoms can become increasingly difficult. Nurses play a critical role in managing these challenges, ensuring that patients receive optimal care tailored to their needs. This includes advance care planning, where nurses can facilitate discussions and provide psychosocial support to both patients and their families. Coordinating with an interdisciplinary team of healthcare professionals ensures a holistic approach to care, addressing physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. These key aspects are explored here, highlighting the crucial role that community nurses play in delivering compassionate, effective care at this complex stage of the disease.

Diabetes in the UK has topped five million, of which 90% of those diagnosed have type 2 diabetes (Wise, 2023). These figures have demonstrated an increase of 148,951 from those recorded in 2020–22, with an estimate that potentially a further 2.4 million people are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes (Diabetes UK, 2023). The National Diabetes Inpatient Audit has shown that 18% of all hospital beds on any one day are occupied by people who have a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes (NHS Digital, 2020). Apart from healthcare costs attributed to age, financial costs of managing diabetes by the National Health Service is around £10 billion a year (NHS England, 2022), with late recognition of the condition being a contributory factor to rising costs (Diabetes UK, 2023). Those people with late recognition or poorly managed diabetes are at risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, which are the most prevalent cause of mortality and morbidity among people with type 1 and 2 diabetes (Orasanu and Plutzky, 2009; Ma et al, 2022). Achievement of good glycaemic control is fundamental to the prevention of complications due to diabetes — although worldwide it is recognised that only 50% of those with diabetes achieve good glycaemic control (Pastakia et al, 2017).

Welcome to 2025 and another exciting year for the Journal of Community Nursing. Over the coming year, as we do each year, we will keep you up to date with the latest information and current themes. We aim to support your education and development with our many learning resources, including journal articles, interactive education, product features and our JCN events. Remember — we are here for you, so please utilise all our online resources.

It’s that time again. A new government full of optimism and a freshly minted prime minister
bursting with new ideas, the honeymoon period yet to slip into acrimony and divorce.

Few sectors look set to benefit so completely from incoming technological advances than the healthcare sector. Developments and innovations in dermatology are the subject of a new programme, The Future of Dermatology: Spotlight on Skin, produced by ITN Business and the British Skin Foundation, which premiered in January this year. Among the different conditions highlighted is lipoedema, a condition that affects millions of women worldwide.

Currently, there are more than eight million people in the UK living with moderate to severely disabling pain and approximately 43% of adults, equating to almost 28 million
people, experiencing some form of chronic pain. It was recently reported by the Health Foundation thinktank that the ‘number of people with chronic pain in England [is set] to rise by 1.9m by 2040’ (Health Foundation, 2023).

Wound malodour is a distressing symptom that significantly impacts the quality of life of patients and their caregivers, often leading to anxiety, stress, and social isolation. This review explores the multifaceted aspects of malodour management, highlighting its causes, assessment challenges, and potential interventions. A holistic, patient-centred approach is critical, ensuring regular reassessment of the wound and addressing concerns such as pain, poor sleep, anxiety, and depression. By incorporating evidencebased  strategies and open communication, healthcare professionals can improve the overall wellbeing of patients and their caregivers.

Despite advances in wound care, treatment of lower limb ulceration remains suboptimal, with poor outcomes often attributed to inadequate diagnosis, failure to follow evidence-based practice, and variations in care delivery. These shortcomings result in delayed healing, reduced quality of life (QoL), and a significant economic burden on healthcare systems. Compression therapy is the recommended treatment for venous ulcers and ulcers with mixed aetiology, however there are some individuals who may not respond to compression alone or who are unsuitable due to arterial status. Recent advances in adjunctive therapies, such as the geko^® device, offer promising results for these patients. This muscle pump activation (MPA) device activates the calf and foot muscle pumps,
increasing venous, arterial and microvascular blood flow. This article examines the impact of leg ulceration on healthcare services and patient outcomes, while exploring the potential of the geko^® device to improve healing rates and reduce associated costs.