A DISTRICT nurse has taken part in a new national nursing forum with Prime Minister David Cameron in an attempt to improve standards.
Candice Pellett, a case manager district nurse for Lincolnshire Community Health Services, based at the Bourne Galletley Medical Practice, in North Road, Bourne, was one of 22 health professionals who were at Downing Street for the first meeting.
They also met Health Secretary Andrew Lansley.
The Nursing and Care Quality Forum has been created by Mr Cameron to improve the quality of nursing care nationally.
Candice is also a full-time nurse in Bourne, caring for people with long term conditions, delivering palliative and end-of-life care.
Candice, who lives in Moulton, said: “I feel very privileged to be involved in the forum. I am really excited at the work we are going to do.”
In 2007 Candice was awarded the rare Queen’s Nurse title by the Queen’s Nursing Institute.
She said: “It is my Queen’s Nurse title which has allowed me the opportunity to do this national work.”
She is now planning to share the excellent working standards being achieved in Bourne.
Candice said: “I am able to take good working practices locally and we are now looking at rolling them out nationally.
“From Bourne I take the good practice we are doing with end-of-life care and other things, with me to the forum to offer as examples.
“One of the things we do well is pre-empting what patients will need.”
Bourne has excelled at is providing care for patients wishing to die at home, far exceeding the national average which shows that just 20 per cent of people get their wish compared to 90 per cent locally.
End-of-life care has been a long term focus of Candice.
In 2009 she was heavily involved with producing six guides for a range of care, including one for patients nearing the end of their lives.