11 Jun RNs Positive Impact on Birmingham’s Health Outcomes
It’s always lovely to see that the work we do making a tangible impact, especially within our communities. As an RN working in Birmingham, you’ve likely treated the majority of Birmingham’s myriad of communities and age groups. You may also have recognised Birmingham’s healthcare inequality problem and are aware of its higher-than-average mortality rate.
Let’s take a look at Birmingham’s state of health by demographic, most common diseases, and nurse workforce impact–a.k.a how RNs are uplifting the Birmingham community. This post takes a deep dive into how nurses are making Birmingham a healthier and happier place.
Birmingham’s Health Outcomes by Demographic
As of 2019, Birmingham had 1.149 million people living there. Of that population, 57% of Brummies were aged between 16 and 59, with 18.9% aged over 60.
So, how do these figures explain Birmingham’s state of health?
Birmingham’s Young and Working Adult Health
If you’ve worked in the A&E or trauma ICU, you’ll know that most accidents happen to younger people– the majority of the population. What’s more is that a lot of our youth seem to have smoking, alcohol and other substance abuse problems. Between 2010 to 2016, there were a total of 21,288 deaths in the city that could be attributed to smoking, according to the 2019 Birmingham Health Profile.
The report states that alcohol-related deaths account for approximately 16% of all deaths within the 25 to 64-year age group each year across Birmingham. The good news? Those numbers are dropping, thanks to patient education from RNs and public health officials. RMNs, give yourself a pat on the back, too: Birmingham youth’s inpatient admissions for mental and behavioural disorders are lower than the national average, says the NHS Digital HES (2012-2015).
That is to say, RMNs, transplant nurses, trauma ICU nurses, OR RNs, rehab nurses, and every other sort of RN dealing with young people are doing great jobs.
Birmingham’s Elderly Health
The UK faces an ageing an ageing population, and with that its ensuing health problems: are coronary heart disease, strokes, hypertension, heart failure, cancer, COPD, and an array of respiratory diseases. The elderly population of Birmingham also faces a loneliness epidemic. Between April 2013 and March 2018, there were approximately 23,350 admissions across Birmingham for falls-related conditions. Most of those who require palliative and hospice care are older than 65 years old.
The good news is that 57% of local area nursing home residents rated their care as good, and 74% in residential care homes as good, too (from the Care Quality Commission’s Birmingham report).
Plus, an AHA paper reports that patients from stroke units have increased the number of patients regaining independence by providing benefits to a wide range of stroke patients in a variety of different ways, ie, reducing death from secondary complications of stroke and reducing the need for institutional care through a reduction in disability. Go, nurses!
A Healthier, Happier Birmingham
Nurses are and have made a ginormous difference in the overall improvement of Birmingham’s health, whether that’s from patient education or assisting in the OR or critical care unit. No matter what sort of speciality you’re in, rest assured that you’re making a difference– the numbers don’t lie.
If you would like to contribute towards the improvement of Birmingham’s health outcomes while earning more than permanent nursing staff, contact Proximity Healthcare for a wide range of nurse agency work in Birmingham.