Alicante celebrates the day of the nursing of Valencia under the motto nurses and chronicity. Binomial for the sustainability of the health system.

alicante, October 2011.- El College of nursing of Alicante held last Friday 21, the day the nursing of Valencia under the banner of nurses and chronicity. Binomial for the sustainability of the health system, which is going to highlight the importance of the involvement and role of the profession nurse in care of patients with chronic diseases.

The day of the Valencian community nursing is a date established by the Council of the nursing of the Valencian Community (CECOVA) which joined the provincial schools of nursing regional organizing different events to enhance the profession and to society as a whole this celebration. With the election of a different motto each year is highlight one aspect of the profession nurse in order to make it visible.

With regard to the matter on which revolves the motto of this year should be noted that in Spain chronic diseases are the leading cause of health care demand in the health centres. Thus, the national survey of health in 2006 already evidenced an average of 2.8 problems or chronic diseases between 65 and 74 years of age, reaching an average of 3.23 in older than 75 years. Therefore, the ageing of the population and the increase in the prevalence of these diseases in recent years demand the need for a change in health systems.

Currently, chronic diseases are, as well as the main reason for death and disability worldwide, the leading cause of health expenditure in Spain, because in particular account for two-thirds of it, that costs in more than one chronic disease patients reach multiplied by six.

Assistance to patients with chronic diseases has become, at last, a political priority and nurses can and must play a key role in the improvement of health care. However, the potential of the synergies between health care administrations and collective health professionals not being realized, so it is essential to address thoroughly and throughout its whole planning of health care to chronicity, as a key aspect for the future sustainability of the public health system.

This type of pathology are going to have a very important role in the health system over the next years due to the increase in the life expectancy of the population, so to meet them with guarantees must count on a profession of nurse that is, to a greater extenthas the responsibility for direct care and care of such patients.

All health care systems are designed to care for chronically ill, and it cannot be otherwise because they are the largest group of patients with a difference. Thus, it is estimated that 78% of sanitary actions will target care of chronic diseases in the year 2020, which is why it is necessary to provide innovative solutions to ensure and improve access to health services.

Chronic patients currently registered figures represent 80% of consultations in primary care and almost 70 per cent of the emergency. Therefore the ultimate goal of administrations and of health professionals must be to improve the quality of life of the chronically ill, reduce unnecessary hospital admissions and preventable; slow the progression of the disease as far as possible, and promote self-care and participation active patients about their own illness.