Cardiovascular Disease Risk Assessment31 Jul 2008

A joint approach with the PCCS

The PCCS Cardiovascular Nurse Leaders Forum

The Cardiovascular Nurse Leaders (CVNL) Forum of the Primary Care Cardiovascular Society is the third specialist sub group of the Primary Care Cardiovascular Society. Established in October 2006 for specialist nurses within the PCCS who are involved in the prevention and management of cardiovascular disease, and who play a significant role in affecting the care other nurses give.

It has a growing membership of over 60 senior nurses across the country working in a variety of settings including primary care, primary care trusts, research and education. Its aims are to provide:

• A network for education and sharing good practice
• Support for nurses who are involved in managing a team
• Service development skills
• Guidance on the writing and implementation of protocols and guidelines

Ann-Marie Johnson and Michaela Nuttall are the current co-chairs of the CVNL forum

CVNL Forum Meetings

At the launch in 2006 the nurses came together easily as a group, finding much common ground in the challenges and opportunities in primary care and the community. It soon became obvious that one the greatest challenges is CVD risk assessment and it often became the focus of the meetings.

Following on from this, throughout 2007, the CVNL Forum membership were actively involved in the development of the government's Vascular Risk Assessment programme, and in recognition of their important role where invited to a reception at the House of Commons to lend their support for a national campaign calling for comprehensive risk assessment for the over 40s.

The most recent meeting took place in April at the Met in Leeds, kindly supported by an unrestricted educational grant from Astra Zeneca titled "At the End of the Day it is all Atheroma". The focus of the meeting was CKD, Stroke and PVD

The next time the CVNL Forum will be meeting as a group will be on the first day of the PCCS Annual Scientific meeting which will take place at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Chester 25th - 27th September 2008 (details on the PCCS website www.pccs.org.uk or email office@pccs.org.uk ) The theme this year is "Cardiovascular Disease and Deprivation".

Sharing

One of the most rewarding elements of the CVNL forum is the opportunity to share. Any of our members are able to email out to the group for advice and experiences in setting up new services, clinical advice or for even something as simple as sharing job descriptions. The PCCS is keen for this electronic communication to develop and now has an online message board where people can post messages and responses.

Journal and writing opportunities

The CVNL Forum is delighted to adopt the British Journal of Primary Care Nursing as its official journal and to have its own page in each issue. This will be edited by two of the CVNL members.

We are also often approached for comments or to write articles in the nursing press. An email will go out to the entire group asking if anyone would like to write the latest piece. Then, if needed, the nurse will then be supported in writing for publication.

CVD Risk Course

This is the latest venture for the CVNL Forum. The Primary Care Training Centre, together with the Primary Care Cardiovascular Society, is delighted to have developed a joint training session. You will hear more about this course in the next issue of this newsletter. We have over 20 CVNLs who have put themselves forward to be a co-trainer to be able to give each course the local feel.

Want to join or find out more? Visit www.pccs.org.uk, call the PCCS on 020 8994 8775, or contact the Training Centre at the address shown at the top of this newsletter.