As a community nurse with a health visiting background, I know all too well the tremendous impact this group of specialist nurses have on the people they care for and support - ranging from managing acute illness and long-term conditions to giving end of life care. The diverse nature of community nursing extends across children, adults, mental health and learning disability, in a variety of settings.

Governments across the UK are beginning to recognise the impact that community nursing has on the health of the population and are placing them at the forefront of their plans to shape the future of health care services with a move to shift care from hospitals to the community.

In the recently published NHS 10-Year Health Plan for England, the Westminster government outlined its ambition to build a health care service ‘fit for the future’. The emphasis is on providing care closer to home, as well as shifting from treatment to prevention and analogue to digital.

In Northern Ireland, the Department of Health recently published its health and social care reset plan which focuses on developing a neighbourhood centred system of care that will bring care as close as possible to those who need it. While in an NHS Scotland operational improvement plan published this year, the Scottish government also committed to shifting the balance of care from hospitals to the community, with community nursing central to achieving this ambitious agenda.

This is an exciting time for community nursing and an opportunity to raise the profile of this vital area of the profession. However, we also know that community nursing is under immense pressure and lacks the capacity to lead the shift without significant investment in the workforce and infrastructure to support them.

Community services already do an excellent job every day in caring for people out of hospital either in or close to their home. However it is imperative that governments back their ambitions with fully funded plans to grow the registered nurse workforce for community roles. It will be impossible to sustain these ambitions without a pipeline of qualified nurses to work in the community.

Investing in the learning and development of the existing community nursing workforce is also vital to improving retention as well as enabling the workforce to grow, lead and innovate in order to meet challenges.

And it is important that there are flexible routes into community nursing and those in training and education are exposed to the different areas of the profession – and that it is seen as an attractive ‘first destination’ for newly qualified nurses where they will gain valuable experiences.  

Finally, we also need to see funding for infrastructure in order to create more joined up systems. It is investment in these systems as well as digital tools that will support care delivery and enhance greater efficiency in the provision of care.

Community nursing is an incredible area of the profession. Despite the challenges that lie ahead, we need to capitalise on the opportunity to reshape community nursing into a more visible, valued and integral part of the health care system with a central role in reducing inequalities, preventing ill-health, and maximising independence.

If you work in a community setting in England or Northern Ireland, take our survey to share your views on the challenges and solutions associated with shifting care from hospitals to the community - and tell us what is needed to support you in playing a leading role in their design and implementation. The survey closes on 8 September 2025.

Health policy is devolved in the UK and this survey focuses on members in England and Northern Ireland.