Volume 8, Number 3

John Thain BSc MSc PCGEd RGN RSCN FETC CSS Senior Lecturer in Child Care Nursing, School of Health, University of Wolverhampton

Child abuse and neglect have become increasingly high profile issues in recent years, following several investigations and inquiries. None was more prominent than the case of Victoria Climbié,1 who was murdered by carers after sustained abuse and neglect, which led to specific criticisms of professionals who missed opportunities to protect her wellbeing and safety.

Lesley Robinson RGN BSc(Hons) Dip NP Vascular Nurse Practitioner, Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle

Venous ulceration is caused by chronic venous hypertension and venous insufficiency. In order to reverse these effects, graduated compression bandaging remains the mainstay treatment.1,2

Lesley Robinson RGN BSc(Hons) Dip NP Vascular Nurse Practitioner, Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle

This article explains how a short-stretch compression bandaging system (see Figure 1) will improve the swelling in your leg.

Julie Bowman, Editor

A family member recently had a hip replacement. With the information given to us by the professionals involved in her care, we chose a hospital 100 miles away where the surgical team held a nationally-acclaimed reputation in joint surgery.

Soline Jerram MSc BSc(Hons) NP MCGI RGN EN(M) Head of Community Nursing, Western Sussex PCT

The skin is the largest organ of the body and plays an important role in homeostasis. In aging, that role becomes even more important with the consequent decrease in homeostatic flexibility. Natural age-related changes compromise the effectiveness of the skin, so it demands greater supplementary help to function. This article looks at the skincare of the frail elderly and the implications for their carers.

Marian Nicholson, Director, Herpes Viruses Association, London

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is carried by over 60% of the UK population. It is usually a minor physical condition and its symptoms are treatable. The virus is transmitted only by skin contact with the affected part. When patients have eczema or other broken skin conditions, HSV may infect a wider area, causing severe discomfort.

DA Burns FRCP FRCP (Edin) Emeritus Consultant Dermatologist, Leicester Royal Infirmary

An eight-year-old boy complained of sore feet. He was a keen football player and told his mother that sometimes his feet hurt so much that he could not run. He had a history of ‘baby eczema’, but this had resolved by the time he was a toddler, and he was otherwise fit and well, apart from hay fever.

Susan Fairbrother, Hayward Medical Communications

A consensus meeting on dermatology – to raise the debate and encourage patients to take a more active role in treating their disease – was held on 20 May 2004 at The Royal Society of Medicine. Facilitated by Charles Gladwin, Pharmacist, and Editor of Chemist and Druggist, and driven by the Skin Care Campaign (SCC), the meeting gathered together key players from the arena of dermatology care, such as patient representatives and clinicians.

Paul Affleck RGN Research Nurse, Division of Genetic Epidemiology, Cancer Research UK, Leeds Clinical Centre

Nursing roles and opportunities have expanded enormously in the last few decades, and recent Department of Health policy documents have placed such expansion at the forefront of healthcare provision in the UK.1,2 The field of research has been no exception to this and there are many nurses working in clinical trials, epidemiology studies and nursing research. The skills that these nurses acquire in more traditional roles provide an excellent basis to develop within their chosen specialism.

Kath Gilbanks ENB 998 DPSN Project/Audit Nurse, Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle

I have worked in the dermatology unit of the Cumberland Infirmary for three years now, and I confess I arrived there by default. My previous department closed down and its staff were redeployed into other areas and so I found myself in dermatology.

Rev. Prof. Stephen G Wright FRCN MBE Faculty of Health, St. Martin’s College, Lancaster. Chairman, The Sacred Space Foundation

How we can express our humanity with each other in healthy ways of nurturing and support without getting caught in patterns of overgiving.