Over the last three years, South Lanarkshire University Health and Social Care Partnership has welcomed a total of 20 DNs into its local teams. The latest cohort have just completed NHS Lanarkshire’s DN Trainee program and are already making a difference in people’s lives by contributing to community services such as South Lanarkshire’s award-winning end-of-life-care programme.  

Professor Soumen Sengupta, Chief Officer of South Lanarkshire University Health and Social Care Partnership, warmly welcomed the DNs. “These are challenging times for health and social care, which makes it all the more important that we recognise the expertise of our staff, highlight the impact that they make across our communities, and recognise how fulfilling a career in caring can be.

“The professionalism and dedication that characterises the work of our DNs – as part of the wider multi-disciplinary team – continues to be vital to the continued development of our services. “I’m delighted to welcome our new colleagues to South Lanarkshire and look forward to the good work ahead.”

Joanne Jenkins, South Lanarkshire University Health and Social Care Partnership’s Associate Director of Nursing, added: “Nursing can often be synonymous with hospitals - however, our community teams are equally crucial to people’s health and wellbeing. “DNs must have the knowledge and resources to deliver highly complex clinical care to people in their homes and in homely settings. “Augmenting the skills they have developed during initial nursing education, our DN trainee program further equips our staff with the specialist attributes to enable specialist care at home.”

Mrs Jenkins added: “We are exceptionally proud of the high standard of support our teams are delivering, day in, day out. “Each and every trainee who has come through this program has also displayed the drive and commitment that will only add to the service being delivered. “These are challenging times – but the expertise we have coming through bodes well for the future.”