Management of lymphoedema: a developing specialism in nursing?

Although there is a long tradition of complex physical treatment of lymphoedema in continental Europe, it is only in the past decade that this approach has been introduced to Britain. During the 1980s, there was a gradual increase in the number of healthcare professionals, in particular nurses, offering treatment alongside their existing responsibilities. In the last 2 years, however, there has been a significant increase in the number of professionals specializing in the management of lymphoedema. Is the management of lymphoedema evolving as a specialism? This paper considers the concept of specialism and relates it to the development of lymphoedema management in Britain. Parallels with the development of an established nursing specialty are also explored.