Our Trust’s community nursing team has shown its unwavering commitment to patient care. By continuing to deliver business as usual amid the ongoing pandemic.
As part of its mission to deliver high quality care even during COVID-19, North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust’s district and community nursing team have been adapting their response. While continuing to ensure patients can be treated from the comfort of their own homes.
The district nursing team continues to offer vital services such as providing wound care management, palliative care, medicine administration and catheter management. Where possible, they are promoting self-management of wound dressing for patients and their relatives. Continuing to support from a distance where patients may be shielding.
Interim head of nursing, Mel Cambage explains more:” Our community matrons have also been invaluable in offering continued support to care homes. Through advice, observations and patient assessments. While the likes of our rapid response and HUB nurses are continuing to provide crisis management at home. Alongside IV treatment, help facilitate discharges and help prevent unnecessary admission to hospital.”
These are just some of the examples of our outstanding community teams who are continuing to perform their regular roles. Alongside other colleagues who specialise in palliative care, diabetes, coronary heart disease heart failure and continence services.
The team has had to make some changes in response to the ongoing pandemic. Where possible the teams have been facilitating faster discharges. Reduced footfall for those shielding and have even adapted to hosting their team meetings virtually.
Mel Cambage continues: “Our mission has always been and will continue to be to deliver high quality nursing care for our patients when and where it’s needed. I would like to personally thank our teams for always going above and beyond on a daily basis to ensure that this happens’’
“We felt it was imperative to ensure that our community patients continue to receive the same levels of care at such an anxious time.”
The teams have continued tirelessly to deliver care in the home, and out in the community. Which is even more important now than ever for the regions frailest and most vulnerable patients. All as the public have continued to reduce their hospital visits and adhere to social distancing. All as services have adapted as a response to the outbreak.
Jackie Lothian, Home manager from Highfield Care Home, Yarm shared her glowing review of our teams: “The District Nurses play such a vital role. I am so grateful for the support they give our home.
“Their professionalism and sunny nature is always so appreciated. They have all taken time out to tell us how well we are doing.
“In times like this, a little thank you has been such a morale boost. We would like to thank the team from the bottom of my heart.”