Community Matrons — A Conduit for Integrated Working?

This article demonstrates how the role of the community matron has developed in Cornwall over the past three years, and how this role can be understood as the lynchpin of an integrated approach to the care and management of patients with complex needs and multiple long-term conditions. In recent years there has been growing recognition that current models of care delivery would be likely to struggle to meet the future demands of an ageing population. Cornwall's approach is to build on the introduction of the community matron service, and to support a new model of care delivery which will encompass use of assistive technology as an additional tool to support those with long-term conditions. The article will demonstrate the current effectiveness of the service in terms of savings for the health and social care community, and presents a case study to show how integrated working can be used to facilitate improved outcomes for patients.