An assessment of need for district nursing

The north London Borough of Barnet has a population of just over 300,000 people, a large proportion of whom are over the age of 75. In the summer of 1995, as a result of the shifting emphasis within the NHS from secondary to primary care, it was recognised that the district nursing service was under pressure to meet the needs of the population. Primary Care Development Fund money was identified for new investment in the service. A health visitor researcher was seconded to the Public Health Directorate to undertake a needs assessment of district nursing for the borough. A qualitative research method was used in the form of focus groups of district nurses to assess their perceived needs for the services. These needs were prioritized and recommendations made. An additional 13 nurses (whole-time equivalents) of various grades in specific areas of the borough were subsequently employed.