Editorial
Published: 29 April 2013
Interest in nursing, and more specifically learning disability nursing, has been high since the beginning of the year. The report of the Francis Inquiry into events at Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust and more recently the report of the Confidential Inquiry into Premature Deaths of People with Learning Disabilities both highlight the need for us to continue to reflect on what we do. But, as a very wise nurse once observed, this must not be a navel-gazing exercise.
Having reviewed the articles in this, the second RCN Learning Disability Nursing Forum newsletter, I’m reassured by the amount of activity going on that is innovative, refreshing the profession and helping to develop our skills so that we can provide the best possible services for people with learning disabilities.
In this issue, thanks to the Strengthening the Commitment national leads, we have updates on progress with implementation and the associated networks. Elsewhere, a newly qualified nurse, Sam Abdulla, shares the new opportunities for learning disability nurses to get in on the conversation using Twitter; and Steve Hardy, editor and newly appointed nurse consultant, shares his advice on developing your work for publication. These articles all offer an opportunity for us to review and share good practice.
Congratulations to Dave Ferguson, recognised in the new year honours, and to Gwen Moulster’s team in Haringey and Raj Jhamat in Birmingham for their success in the Nursing Standard Nurse Awards 2013. There are many other opportunities for learning disability nurses to be recognised in similar ways, but you have to be in it to win it!
Finally, RCN Congress 2013 in Liverpool was another opportunity to get involved in the conversation and to identify new possibilities for improving services and society for and with people with learning disabilities. You can read my report of the event here.