Sick people in their own homes: who cares? A study of District Nursing

This theoretical study calls attention, in the wider setting of community care, to one branch of the nursing work-force--the District Nursing Service--which has existed in a professional form since about 1860 but which may have escaped the notice of community workers. Research findings demonstrate that up until 1968 MDs & other health workers knew very little about the district nurse. Revealed are important consequences of the features of community health for the problem of the structuring of nursing practice.' Since nurses & midwives constitute the largest group in the National Health Service staff, the success of health policies will depend substantially on effective nursing practice,' &, 'while attitudes to health & disease are changing along with social aspiration, the incidence of disease is changing too, & this will influence the calls made upon nurses & midwives.' A number of trends along a chronological dimension are noted. Described are the establishment & development of the District Nursing Service & the professional activities of the district nurse in the UK. Attention is called to an important worker in the community setting to promote realization of the value of his/her work by community workers. AA.