Resources

T his issue’s ‘Community matters’ piece discusses the subject of artificial intelligence (AI) and is a ‘must read’. Technology is advancing at such a pace so we cannot ignore
it and need to find ways to embrace the benefits it brings. This article demonstrates how AI is used in our everyday lives, and to be honest it was a surprise to me just how much we
do use it! Examples are given of some uses within healthcare and nursing environments and possible future innovations explored. It is definitely thought provoking, and this feature is clear and explicit, helping us to understand how AI currently supports us and how it could do in the future.

Whenever scientists try and imagine what the future will look like, they invariably get a little carried away. If past predictions were anything to go by, by this point in the 21st century we should all be whizzing about in driverless cars, feasting on laboratory grown meat and living to improbable ages, our life expectancy artificially extended by stem-cell implants.

Having read the ‘Community matters’ piece in the last issue of the Journal of Community Nursing on talking about death and ‘do not attempt cardiopulmonary  resuscitation’ (DNACPR) orders, a subject very close to my heart, I felt compelled to write this editorial to encourage community nurses to always keep this vital aspect of care in mind. Discussing death and DNACPR orders can be challenging. However, these conversations are not just about medical procedures; they are about understanding and respecting patients’ wishes, values, and dignity. Engaging in these discussions ensures that patients receive the care they want at the end of their lives, aligning with their personal
values and preferences

Earlier this year, the Queen’s Nursing Institute (QNI) announced the launch of a new membership scheme for organisations that provide community health services in England. This is the first time that the charity has operated such a scheme for organisations.

It is estimated that 1.5 million children and young people (Paediatric Continence Forum
[PCF], 2024), that is one in 12, across the UK battle debilitating, misunderstood and sometimes complex bowel or bladder conditions, including bedwetting, daytime
wetting, chronic constipation and soiling.

The importance of early diagnosis in cancer is better understood today than it has ever been. Spotting cancer in its earliest stages offers better treatment options and improved survival (Cancer Research UK, 2024). This is particularly stark for bowel cancer,
where more than nine in 10 people survive when diagnosed at stage 1, dropping dramatically to less than one in 10 at stage 4.

This case report is to help raise awareness of a rare autoimmune disorder, cold agglutinin disease (CAD), which is characterised by the premature destruction of red blood cells (haemolysis) (National Organisation for Rare Disorders [NORD], (2020). It can have a severe
physical and psychological impact on those suffering with it. Caring for patients with CAD can also be extremely challenging and even traumatic for clinicians. The importance of good multidisciplinary team (MDT) working both within hospital and when discharging
a patient to a community healthcare setting is also highlighted (NORD, 2020), as well as the importance of clear communication for the patient from medical staff on the expectations of treatment and prognosis. Approximately one person in 300,000 gets CAD, which is more prevalent in those aged 60 years and older. Women are also more likely to get it than men (Smith, 2021).

Patients with chronic wounds present a growing challenge to community practitioners. Adding to this growing burden is the fact that inconsistent and sub-optimal wound care is delivered in some cases resulting in hard-to-heal wounds that could heal with evidence-based care. Holistic patient assessment is an important first step in establishing the cause of the wound and identifying any barriers to healing. Wound bed preparation is a concept which prepares the wound for closure by systematically identifying potential barriers to non-healing within the wound, including the presence of devitalised tissue, excess exudate, increased wound bioburden, infection, inflammation and biofilm. Dressings are a key part of wound bed preparation in the community setting, and it is important that community practitioners are mindful of the properties and mode of action of products they use, so that optimal outcomes can be achieved. Suprasorb® Liquacel Pro is a hydroactive gelling fibre dressing and Suprasorb® Liquacel Ag is a hydroactive dressing with silver nanoparticles that can be used as part of wound bed preparation to promote a moist wound healing environment.

Diagnosis of low back pain can be intriguing and complex. Careful history-taking and physical examination are essential to ensure red flags (serious issues) are not missed, that treatment is appropriate, evidence-based and timely, and that follow-up and review are well documented and understood by the patient. This article covers some of the more common causes of back pain in primary and urgent care.