For the newest chapter of our Manifesto by Nurses, we requested for nurses’ views on the general public well being insurance policies they need to see from politicians forward of the possible 2024 basic election.

The mostly cited name to motion was for measures to deal with the unfold of misinformation about vaccinations, significantly on social media.

It comes as a decline in uptake of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination in recent times has led to outbreaks of measles, which was beforehand eradicated within the UK. Misinformation concerning the Covid-19 vaccination has additionally been rife and meant some individuals refused the jab.

Nurses going into colleges to talk to college students about immunisation was one suggestion put ahead.

School pupils might additionally profit from nurse-led sexual well being schooling, in keeping with one nurse who was additionally a instructor.

Other concepts had been put ahead that targeted on empowering the general public to guard their well being and to plan for his or her future care wants.

There was additionally a necessity to handle the social points that contribute to unwell well being, corresponding to poverty, nurses urged.

Once full, Nursing Times plans to ship our Manifesto by Nurses to the political events which are looking for to type the subsequent UK authorities.

Your proposals at a look: 

• Counter vaccination misinformation
• Free train programmes
• Better pandemic preparation
• Nurse-led sexual well being schooling
• More routine well being screening
• Stricter rules on meals trade
• More future care planning

What you mentioned

Tunde Jeremiah Aduragbemi

Tunde Jeremiah Aduragbemi, radiology workers nurse, North West of England

Mr Aduragbemi felt extra wanted to be accomplished to vary the general public notion of smoking to additional scale back smoking charges, warning: “It is an endemic social habit that needs to be looked at.”

On vaccination, he referred to as for devoted public well being campaigns, that are focused at low-uptake teams corresponding to these from Asian and African backgrounds.

More broadly, he needed to see programmes geared in the direction of selling wholesome consuming and rising youth participation in train and sporting actions. He urged the federal government to spend money on extra inexperienced and open areas the place individuals might stroll and train.

Antoinette Elizabeth Gaillies Codd, instructor and nurse, Harlow College and Princess Alexandra NHS Trust, Essex

She mentioned a larger presence of nurses in colleges might assist to enhance vaccination charges. “Immunisations can be increased by nurses going into schools and discussing diseases and immunisations with teachers and parents and pupils […], and giving links to the information online [and] being prepared to discuss disinformation online,” she mentioned.

In addition, she instructed that midwives ought to focus on immunisation with pregnant girls from their first appointment collectively to handle any questions they might have.

Ms Codd additionally needed to see sexual well being nurses going into colleges to coach pupils on sexual well being, noting that “it is not being taught well in schools”.

Other options from Ms Codd included stricter necessities on the meals trade to contemplate public well being, and decreasing the variety of preservatives and components in merchandise.

Valerie Robinson, NHS nurse, East Midlands

Ms Robinson made a plea for social media use to “stop”, as she was involved about its impact on youngsters and younger individuals’s well being and wellbeing.

She mentioned moms wanted higher entry to “reliable” schooling about vaccinations to counter misinformation.

Reducing waits for NHS care was additionally cited by Ms Robinson as being key for public well being. She instructed that sufferers could possibly be supplied vouchers for personal healthcare in the event that they must wait longer than three weeks for assist from the NHS. “Ill health, when it happens, will not have time to fester. Then it is cheaper to solve,” she mentioned.

Regarding Covid-19, Ms Robinson urged: “Continue to protect the vulnerable.”

Sarah Cosmos

Sarah Cosmos, retired nurse adviser to care houses, South East of England

Ms Cosmos needed to see extra individuals supported to doc their future care needs, for instance, by the ReSPECT (Recommended Summary Plan for Emergency Care and Treatment) course of.

“The most emotionally difficult facet of my 36-year NHS nursing profession was witnessing sufferers undergo a number of hospital admissions, primarily as a result of well being professionals and households worry of being seen to not care,” she mentioned.

“Those of us who have nursed such patients understand how a hospital conveyance can negatively impact their physical and cognitive health.”

Sarah Daines, scholar psychological well being nurse, East Sussex

“Preventative measures in health promotion rather than a cure needs prioritising,” mentioned Ms Daines.

She added: “Encourage practices that maintain and promote wellbeing rather than treating issues/health conditions when they arise due to our lifestyle in the UK and other Western cultures that do not support people’s health and wellbeing.”

The psychological well being scholar nurse additionally referred to as for extra “kindness” and “compassion” between individuals in society so as to help higher public well being.

Adebukola Lawal

Adebukola Lawal, emergency division workers nurse, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust

“The NHS needs a complete transformation, with more focus on [ill] health prevention and supported self-management,” urged Ms Lawal.

She mentioned extra schooling was wanted for the general public on staying properly, which might relieve strain on the well being service.

Chris Rumney, paediatric nurse educator, Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Ms Rumney had one demand: “Extend [the] age that women are automatically contacted for routine mammogram from [50 to] 71 years to [50 to] 80.”

Suzanne Freeman, follow nurse, South East of England

Her options included educating the general public by way of social media to “help address myths and misinformation relating to vaccines”.

She additionally needed wholesome meals made cheaper and for vouchers for fruit, greens and grains to be made accessible to these on decreased incomes. Similarly, Ms Freeman needed to see free train schemes for individuals who wrestle with exercise.

She additionally referred to as for motion to “address the social issues that lead to poor health – poverty, food scarcity, lack of space, time and energy to cook healthy meals or exercise”.

Mojirade Odeleye

Mojirade Odeleye, registered nurse, East of England

Better preparation for pandemics was the decision to motion from Ms Odeleye, noting that proof from the UK Covid-19 inquiry instructed there was “no policy nor plans in place for such pandemic”.

“A review of previous plans should be done involving researchers and all sectors of healthcare professionals, and that will put in place robust plans and strategies to follow before, during and after pandemics,” she mentioned.

“When there is news about a pandemic from any country, measures should be taken immediately, adequate provision should be made to healthcare providers and public health to safeguard the country, and such policies and procedures should be made public.”

Sally Larkin

Sally Larkin, scholar nurse in Sheffield, beforehand an NHS mission help officer

Ms Larkin mentioned social media platforms might do extra to handle misinformation about vaccinations and Covid-19.

Also on vaccinations, she mentioned extra analysis could possibly be carried out to grasp why vaccination uptake was decrease in sure communities, with findings used to develop “effective communications and information to encourage uptake”.

What subsequent?

The subsequent chapter of our Manifesto by Nurses will give attention to sustainability.

we need to know your concepts for a way the subsequent authorities might help the well being and social care sectors obtain their net-zero ambitions.

What are the national-level adjustments that could possibly be rolled out to dramatically scale back the affect of healthcare on the setting?

Are there some other insurance policies that you can imagine that can make it simpler for nurses to make their follow greener?

To present your concepts for the sustainability chapter, click or tap here to participate earlier than Monday, 25 March.

Alternatively, ship your ship your concepts in not more than 300 phrases to nursingtimesmanifesto@gmail.com, alongside along with your full identify, job position, location and a high-resolution image of your self.

Please notice that, by doing so, you’re agreeing to be probably named, quoted and pictured in Nursing Times, each on-line and in our print publications.

Download a PDF of the general public well being chapter beneath.