Christine Hancock

Non-communicable diseases: Calling healthcare educators to action

Increasing numbers of people across the world are developing preventable non-communicable diseases (NCDs). This has massive social and economic implications for individuals, families, communities and countries, and impacts on the roles, responsibilities and future careers of nurses. The growing epidemic of NCDs is attracting increasing attention at every level and in almost every country. Many of the causes and solutions are beyond the remit of the health sector alone, calling instead for a system-wide approach. However, with the necessary knowledge and skills, the millions of nurses worldwide are well placed to make a significant contribution to the prevention and management of NCDs, focusing particularly on tobacco cessation, a healthy diet (including safe use of alcohol) and physical activity.

Urgent action needed on non-communicable diseases: Global collaboration is key to improving health, says Christine Hancock

The world is facing an epidemic of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer and chronic lung diseases. It is estimated that NCDs will cause a (US)

Seven challenges: Christine Hancock reports on a scheme rewarding brilliant ideas

35 trillion loss in global economic output between 2005 and 2030.

The importance of the Care Standards Bill, this year's pay award and support for the pioneering spirit in nursing.

The NHS employs many talented people with ideas on how services can be improved. But it is not always easy to find support for such ideas, still less to spread them to produce maximum benefit.

England's new strategy for nursing is a beginning. our job now is to push hard to ensure it lives up to its promises

Care Standards Bill could polarise care This is my first opportunity to wish you well for the year and congratulate you on your sheer hard work and commitment over what has been a fraught few weeks. Many nurses have worked extra hours and coped with an even heavier workload than usual to keep the health service going. The river of fire on the Thames may have proved the damp squib of the millennium celebrations, but the year 2000 certainly started with a bang - and a few fireworks - for the NHS.

We are now beginning to see the full potential of a strong nursing presence in the Euro-corridors of power

ON A HOT day in Dewsbury the prime minister spoke warmly of nurses. Announcing the strategy for nursing, he said how people - including the government - valued nurses and praised nurses for finding new ways of working.

Dame Catherine Mary Hall DBE CBE Hon d Litt SRN SCM FRCN

Beef bans and wrangles over the single currency are what Europe seems to mean to most people these days; on the surface, at least. Gradually though, the importance of what goes on in Brussels is acknowledged. Silly season tales of straight bananas have made way for serious accounts of the impact of the working time directive.

Purchasing report is full of potential.

Dame Catherine Hall was general secretary of the RCN from 1957 to 1982. She was born in Sheffield in 1922 and began her nursing career at Leeds General Infirmary.

The named nurse in perspective.

Your news item on the Department of Healths study of nurses in purchasing does not do full justice to the intentions and potential impact of the report (Report pulls its punches on nursings role in purchasing, News, July 6).