We are listening - we’ll be there

Hello my name is, 

Jean,

I’m the Associate Director of Nursing for Long Term Conditions.

I’d like to tell you about the changes we are making to Community Nursing Services as a result of your feedback.

Community Nurses, sometimes known as District Nurses provide nursing care for patients in their own home environment, co-ordinate care and treatment with other members of the healthcare team and provide advice and support to families and carers. Our patients can have long term and chronic medical conditions, sometimes with complex needs.

Traditionally, Community Nursing Services have operated during what was considered to be normal working hours of 08:45am to 5pm with a separate nursing service on-duty overnight from 6pm to 8am.

We are focused on providing person-centred care and some patients who may be in the later and last stages of life are choosing to remain in their own homes, surrounded by their family and friends where possible. Although these community nursing services provide a level of continuity in care, you told us that the 45minute gap in the morning and the hour in the evening was challenging if you were seeking advice or support at these particular times.

We have now introduced Integrated Community Support Teams (ICST) in South Lanarkshire which includes the provision of a 24 hour nursing service delivered by the same team. These teams also include physiotherapists, occupational therapists and social work care staff. Patients, carers, families and staff report positively on the improved continuity of care and enhanced experience this change has brought.

                                       Members of the Hunter Health Centre ICST

As a result of the positive comments from patients and families in South Lanarkshire, we are currently working towards the introduction of an integrated 24 hour nursing service for North Lanarkshire during 2015.

We are confident that this, along with other planned developments of the Community Nursing Service such as administration of medicines that would normally only be available in hospital will support people to be cared for safely in their own homes; even during periods of acute illness where appropriate, should this be their wish.

I’m really proud of the staff working hard to deliver this key service and would be pleased to receive your feedback on what we are doing well, or where we could do better.

If you have an experience of Community/ District nursing you would like to share, please speak to a member of staff, respond on Patient Opinion, or visit the “Your Feedback” Section of the NHS Lanarkshire website to see the other ways to get in touch www.nhslanarkshire.org.uk