Using community matrons to target long-term conditions.

The community matron is a new type of practitioner, one who is highly skilled and a specialist in community care and inter-agency working. It is considered that this new role will support new ways of working to reduce unplanned hospital admissions and support the most vulnerable people in our communities. The role is not simply one of coordination but will extend to undertaking clinical interventions, making referrals, prescribing medicines and requesting investigations.