Independent Nurse: PCTs are accused of 'forcing' district nurses into community matron roles.(nurses are forced to work as a community matrons )

District nurses are being forced to work as community matrons so the government meets its target for 3,000 of the new-style healthcare worker by March next year, a leading nurse has revealed.

Former health secretary John Reid promised 3,000 community matrons to oversee patients with long-term complex medical conditions. But Anne Duffy, director of the Community and District Nursing Association, said PCT managers are forcing nurses to work as matrons to hit the target.

She explained: 'A lot of managers are now making district nurses change their contracts and work as matrons, often against the nurse's will. The majority of trusts are pushing district nurse …