Lesley Thomalley, Chair of the RCN Discharge Planning and Continuing Health Care Committee, sends this update on the latest developments and wants to know how you are coping with the issues in your local patch.

I hope that the snowy weather has not hampered you too much in your everyday practice. How have things been for you since the revision of the NHS Continuing Health Care guidelines which were issued by the Department of Health in October? Have there been any changes for you and your practice? What impact has this had?

The recently introduced legislation for the Free Personal Care at Home Bill has evoked controversy from the opposition, suggesting that the number of people who will be offered the provision is underestimated. Concerns are also raised regarding the funding for this provision. I think you will find a great deal of substance in the RCN briefing on the second reading of the Bill, which you can read here. 

The Bill received its third reading unopposed on 13 January and has now passed through Commons, but it will have to secure the backing of the House of Lords if it is to become law before the general election.

This service is already available in Scotland. Do any of our forum members have experience of this and how it works for the patient? There are many schemes similar to this up and running in the UK. Are you currently working in this role as an enablement worker? If so, let us know your experiences.

We eagerly await the Discharge Planning Handbook from the Department of Health which will give guidance to nurses in all areas of work. Have you any issues to raise with the committee members? If so, you can email me and I’ll take it from there!