Depression

The practice nurse has an important role to play in supporting patients with depression. Well-informed nurses can educate, encourage and support patients in appropriate use of medication, and guide them towards other agencies that can help, including other professionals like community psychiatric nurses, social workers, psychologists and psychiatrists, and daycare or support groups

Alcohol misuse

Much of the literature looking at trends in drinking has shown that the consumption of alcohol is increasing, particularly in women and young men. Many patients needing treatment for alcohol abuse can be managed in primary care with the support of an experienced specialist nurse who can help people stay alcohol-free, or refer them on to appropriate services.

Drug misuse

Each year in England and Wales, an estimated 2,000 deaths are caused by illegal drug abuse. The Department of Health estimates that, in England, 90% of all cases of hepatitis C and 6% of all HIV cases are caused by injecting drugs. Frontline clinical staff need to be skilled and confident in assessing and managing misuse, develop dedicated services for dual diagnosis and establish close links with addiction teams.

Helping smokers quit

Staff working in primary care need to be advising all smokers to quit and offering structured support or referring them to the NHS Stop Smoking Services. A combination of advice, motivational support and appropriate treatment is effective in helping people quit. Brief advice helps to reduce patients' smoking and NICE guidance was issued on this topic to help professionals support patients. There is no quick fix to ending addiction to nicotine and many smokers, particularly those from socially deprived areas, relapse several times before they finally succeed.

Related conditions

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a devastating condition for many individuals in the UK and represents a major burden to our healthcare economy. The treatment of COPD begins with prevention and, primarily, this involves stopping the population from smoking tobacco. Patients with early disease may go unrecognised or have their symptoms mistaken for asthma, so it is important for nurses working in primary care to consider the diagnosis in smokers and arrange appropriate assessment and treatment promptly.

Healthcare professionals

• NICE Guidance: mental health
• NICE Guidance: eating disorders
• NHS Choices: Eating disorders
• NHS Choices: Depression