As urology, cancer and continence issues are so prevalent in the population of the UK, it is easy to see why the management of these patient problems requires so much in terms of clinical resources, workforce and cost to the public purse. The impact of these challenges is only compounded when we encounter the contemporaneous system stressors of the global pandemic, public spending cuts and workforce losses due to retirement, burn-out and the cost-of-living crisis.
It would be quite easy to feel despondent about a career in healthcare (let alone urology) were it not for the unique and timely opportunities the status quo now has to offer to Urological nurses as change-makers. In a world where increasing numbers of patients need our help with fewer clinical resources available to deal with them, Urology nurse-led services can represent a cost-effective answer in so many instances. You have only to join us for a day at BAUN Conference to see the range of creative and novel strategies that nurses and other healthcare professionals have devised as solutions to such problems as reduced access to care and restricted inpatient beds.
Quite rightly, cancer care tends to draw the spotlight in terms of public spending, research and government edict. However, less headline-worthy yet equally significant urological conditions such as urinary incontinence do not draw the same funding or media attention urging sufferers to seek help. For this reason, so much non-cancer health burden goes unnoticed and un-championed. With particular reference to continence, the impact of this systematic neglect inflicts enormous avoidable suffering on the person and mounting financial costs both to them (in terms of buying extra pads, loss of earnings etc.) and also society (avoidable skin damage requiring intervention, NHS prescriptions and falls).
And so, we Urological and Continence nurses have an unique opportunity to make a big difference to our patients by getting involved with national profile-raising campaigns and fundraisers. We can achieve success by lobbying parliament for better funding and better awareness of all urological issues from improving cancer pathways to providing bins in male toilet facilities.
Becoming a Urology nurse provides you with the opportunity to make a change on a national level as well as during the individual patient encounter. BAUN is your platform to reach organisations outside your immediate employer, put you in touch with fellow like-minded professionals and build the strength-in-numbers required to impact the national healthcare agenda.