Rheumatology is to do with diseases of the joints, but can also affect muscles and other soft tissues. The summary table on pages 8 and 9 also shows an 'all treatments' figure which records overall performance including areas we do not cover separately in the tables. The Patient's Charter says that if you need a home visit from a nurse, midwife or health visitor, they will agree an appointment with you and visit you within an hour of that appointment time. You can see from this table the percentage of visits between January 1997 and March 1997 which took place within one hour of the agreed appointment time. The standard is for home visits by district nurses, midwives, health visitors, community psychiatric and learning disability nurses, and other specialist nurses.
District nurses provide care in the homes of patients with severe or long-term illnesses.
Community psychiatric and learning disability nurses care for people with mental health problems and learning disabilities. Health visitors work with children and families in the community to promote public health. Specialist nurses care for patients with specific illnesses and physical disabilities. Midwives care for mothers and babies during pregnancy, in labour and after birth. Summary You will find a summary of tables 1 to 5 on pages 8 and 9.