What steps it (a) is taking and (b) plans to take to provide nurses in primary care settings with training to (i) identify, (ii) diagnose a…

The identification and diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis would normally be the role of a doctor. The assessment of care requirements and planning care with people and their families are core skills of nurses working in all settings. The majority of community nurses who have caseload management responsibility have completed post registration specialist community nurse qualifications which further enhance skills of assessment and care planning in primary care settings.
These programmes are not condition specific as they prepare nurses for a generalist role in the community. However, they develop the nurse’s ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams and access appropriate specialist resources to enhance the care they provide.
The Scottish Government continues to fully fund nurses to undertake non-medical prescribing training (nurse independent/supplementary prescribing). This has enabled both specialist nurses, for example clinical nurse specialists in rheumatology who work across primary and secondary care, and community nurses to use knowledge and skills and be more responsive to people’s needs. We will continue to support NHS boards develop community nursing care.
No recent representations have been received regarding the training of nurses in the care and management of rheumatoid arthritis in primary care.