A role for community nurses in commissioning local services

The NHS is facing great reform as it is deemed unfit to meet the challenges of healthcare. A main example of this is changing demographics, with a steep increase in the number of older people living longer with multiple and sometimes complex, long-term conditions.¹

Alongside this is an increase in diseases of modern lifestyles, with attention from healthcare professionals focused on encouraging people to make healthier lifestyle choices.² These challenges are set against unprecedented financial circumstances; to achieve quality care for all, while facing cuts to services presents a huge challenge for health professionals.

Clinical commissioning groups

One attempt at improving health outcomes is giving local clinicians the power to commission health services. Commissioning is defined as a set of complex activities geared towards assessing the needs of local populations and putting services in place to meet those needs.³ It has been evolving through policy; but previous attempts have not been deemed enough.