I have just read the latest edition of this publication and was very shocked by a letter about LD nursing. I fully understand the point being made about the low number of posts but is merging with mental health really the way forward? I have been qualified for 17 years and despite the falling number of jobs I have not seen a reduction in need.
Due to the advances in neonatal care, more children are living longer with more complex needs. If anything we need more nurses.
On top of this, learning disabilities spent many years differentiating between two distinctly different areas. Going back to the days of the big institutions, the two groups were lumped together and generally viewed as being "mad". Social stigma increased and people were marginalised. Is this were we want to go back to? I sincerely hope not.
In my opinion learning disabilities and mental health nursing should be kept separate but services should be educated to the high level of skill the different nurses can bring to each group.
How can homogenisation be a good thing?