Steven Black

Inside the mind.

Somehow, nurses seem able to recognise and meet the needs of marginalised people. For Helena McCourt, consultant nurse working at HMP Styal in Cheshire, that marginalised group is women prisoners with mental health problems. Ms McCourt is a mental health consultant nurse who specialises in assessing and caring for women inmates with complex needs. She divides her time between working in a womens prison and in high- and medium-secure services.

Action plan won't solve Scotland's staffing crisis.

A PACKAGE of measures designed to overcome growing recruitment and retention problems in Scotland has won only a lukewarm reception from nursing leaders.

Scottish nursing strategy puts focus on leadership: Investment is 'important', but nurses still need to gain greater control over budgets

NURSES IN Scotland are to be sent on courses to improve their leadership skills as part of the governments strategy for the profession published last week.

Health of a nation: Scotland has more than its fair share of health problems which the new parliament will have to tackle. AsSteven Blackreports, nurses will be making their views heard

SCOTLAND IS not in the rudest of health. The Scottish health statistics 1997, published on May 1 this year, show small falls in mortality and morbidity year-on-year since 1993, for such serial killers as ischaemic heart disease, stroke and lung cancer. But poor diet, a macho drinking culture and a 30 per cent smoking rate among the adult population keep tire picture gloomy. Lung cancer and, top of the league, heart disease remain major causes of death. The bottom line is a life expectancy two years less at birth than in England and Wales.