New Roles for Nursing

Content
Evaluation planned.
Developments so far.
References.

Return to Nursing Progress contents list.
Back to Issue 11 contents list

Exhilarated by the NHS Modernisation programme, ten experienced nurses and seven reception staff started new jobs at the walk-in centre in Whitechapel just one year ago. (1) Based next to The Royal London Hospital, the walk-in centre is located in a convenient spot to attract patients who have minor illnesses and injuries – thereby helping to relieve pressure on local Accident & Emergency departments and enabling patients to access primary care services who would otherwise have difficulty in doing so. All our reception staff are bilingual, which helps improve access to these services by the large Asian population living in east London.

Walk-in centres are part of the Government's vision to provide fast, and easily accessible services to people who can 'walk in' without a pre-booked appointment and receive face-to-face consultation with an experienced and knowledgeable nurse. (2) We are just one of 37 new walk-in-centres set up around the country. Our service is a joint venture enjoying the support of both Barts and The London NHS Trust and Tower Hamlets Primary Care Trust (our employers).

Back to contents

Walk-in centres have come under criticism with a suggestion that there is little evidence available on which to gauge their success or otherwise.(3) Anecdotal evidence suggests the centres are becoming very successful with many attracting some 3,000 patients a month. However, the Department of Health's full evaluation of the initiative is yet to be published. Here, we await this with anticipation – Whitechapel Walk-in Centre volunteered  to be one of the six national pilot sites to accept 'bogus' patients for consultation as part of this evaluation of services. (Now, how many other professionals would have been comfortable taking part in something like that, we wonder!). Additionally, there is strong evidence from nurse-led primary care clinics in other countries of their long-term success.

Back to contents

So, how is the service developing here? I have witnessed many developments in the service over the past year and, reflecting on the year, we have come a long way. As in any new service development, you have to continue to provide the best possible service while working in an environment of constant change, day-to-day pressure and where the need to 'think on your feet' is paramount.  For me, the most positive aspect of this nurse-led service has been our success in recruiting such experienced nurses at a time when the whole of London is experiencing recruitment problems. (4) We have recruited nursing staff with a diverse range of skills, knowledge and experience and have nurses with primary care experience (including health visiting, district nursing and practice nursing), an occupational health nurse, a prison nurse and nurses with an A&E background. What a mix! Together, our experience and knowledge is vast. The joy of the job is learning from each other, brushing up on skills we haven't used for years and having the ability to learn new skills daily.

Unlike some of the walk-in centres, here at Whitechapel we have the luxury of support from a GP working with us on every shift. The doctor is there to support nurses in their practice. We have yet to fully explore the exciting opportunities that this gives us. Publication of the NHS Plan in 2000, and Making a Difference has ushered in a period of great change for nursing (and indeed for all health professionals).(2) (5) Never before have we received quite such encouragement  to break down professional barriers, explore new ways of working and push forward with new initiatives and opportunities, to provide modern and easily accessible services to patients.

1. Department of Health. The NHS Modern, Dependable. London. The Stationery Office.1997.

Back to Top

Back to Nursing Progress contents

Back to Issue 11 contents list

Last updated by DEB in April 2002

[RLH League]

[League Notices]

[Membership]

[League history]

[Education]

[Hospital History]