Response: Update on UK Association and collaborations for the common good

Like Rosemary, I appreciate the effort and interest shown by the nurses who have responded to the debate. It was difficult, if not impossible, to address the need for diversity in nursing groups without passion. I can understand how emotion can be misconstrued, and feel that some additional information here could make the UK Association’s views more explicit, and reduce confusion.

The UK Association of Diabetes Specialist Nurses and the RCN Diabetes Nursing Forum are simply not the same – they are different. Their members are different, and their structure, objectives and ability to achieve them are different. However, being different does not mean wrong, or mutually exclusive. In fact, for the Association, it means an ability to bring a specific perspective to diabetes nursing, i.e. that of DSNs, enabling the RCN Forum to represent the views of their more generalist members. Imagine the richness of the diabetes nursing voice if the views of not only DSNs but also those of their partners in nursing care, i.e. practice, district and ward nurses, were equally and obviously represented.

To enable this vision to come true, Rosemary and I have agreed to make our collaboration more transparent, and will regularly discuss key issues and strategies. This will avoid any concerns regarding duplication and division. I feel that our meeting at the BDA along with the issues raised at the debate has enabled us to take this positive step forward.

I would like to thank all Association members for their valuable feedback, and suggest that members of both organisations inform their committees to ensure that their views are represented.