Nursing & Other Health Care Services

Summary

District Nursing Teams led by a qualified District Nursing Sister provide nursing care to patients in their own homes, health centres, local authority and private residential accommodation.

District Nursing Services include undertaking care management, skilled clinical intervention and health education in support of:

• Teaching self care procedures to enable patients to manage their own health needs.
• Educating and assisting patients/carers to adapt to limitation imposed by health related problems.
• Preventing health complications associated with immobility, disability or existing illness.
• Wound management. An adequate supply of dressings must be supplied by the GP/Hospital on referral.
• Rehabilitation following surgery, disability, accident, illness or event.
• Long-term management and support of patients with chronic degenerative conditions.
• Terminal/palliative care.
• Post operative care/follow up at home/clinic
• Treatment and monitoring of health problems within the practice population.

District Nurses are part of the Primary Health Care Team
The Primary Health Care Team is comprised of various professional groups. The team works in partnership and liases with members of the team, and can help you to access their help, it includes:

• General Practitioner
• Health Visitor
• Midwife
• Practice Nurse
• Specialist Nurses e.g. Macmillan Nurse, Diabetic Liaison, Continence Service, Stoma Nurse
• Social Services
• Physiotherapy
• Occupational Therapy
• Chiropody
• Respite Care
• Home Loans Equipment
• Hospice Care
• Marie Curie Service

Eligibility

Patients who are eligible for the District Nursing Service

• The patient has a health problem or condition, which requires skilled district nursing intervention to ensure effective treatment and care in the home/clinic setting.
• The patient has been diagnosed with terminal illness and/or is in the terminal phase of their illness and requires a district nursing assessment to enable an appropriate package of care to be determined for the patient.
• The patient is already receiving care from other services but requires district-nursing input on collaborative/shared care basis.
• Skilled nursing assistance is needed to support patient/carers using technical equipment to manage their health condition at home.
• The patient had continuing health care needs requiring an intensive package of care from the District Nursing Service.
• Patients who require a visit at home will only receive one if they are housebound, or if the referring health professional deems it necessary for a home visit. All District Nursing teams have access to either a district nurse led clinic or practice nurse clinic.

Procedure

Referrals can be made by:

• By ringing/visiting your GP and requesting a District Nurse visit
• By contacting your local health centre
• By ringing communications department on the number below

Helplines

Communications Officer at Mount Vernon Hospital Tel 01226 730000 ext. 3211
or
The District Nursing Sister at your Local Health Centre or Clinic.

All referrals should come via the GP, communications or self referral