Vital and rewarding work done by district nurses in Worcestershire

WHEN people think of the NHS they would be forgiven for thinking of GPs or hospitals. However the support provided in the community and in people’s own homes is, and will continue to be, essential to ensuring there is a safe and sustainable service in the future – enter Worcestershire’s dedicated band of district nurses.

District nurses visit patients in their own homes to provide nursing care for a range of health needs. The treatments range from simple wound care right through to end of life care for those who choose to die at home following illnesses.

The district nurses work towards supporting patients to live independently and assess their needs to ensure we can refer and sign post them on to the services they require.

Donna Jones, who is one of the Cluster Leads for the district nursing teams supporting patients across south Worcestershire - including Worcester City, said: “The best part of the job is the fact that we are able to support people in their own homes. Although being admitted to hospital is sometimes an essential requirement, home is often the most preferable option.

“It is an honour to be welcomed into people's homes to provide nursing care for them and it leads to a great deal of job satisfaction when we know we have been able to keep them at home safely.

“It is also fantastic to work among such a supportive group of health professionals whose dedication to patient care is endless.”

The district nursing teams are provided by Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust, which also runs services for children and adults with mental health problems, a range of therapies including physiotherapists and occupational therapists, as well as operating Worcestershire’s community hospitals and minor injury units (excluding the MIU at Kidderminster) plus other services.

Many of its services are provided in community settings and in people’s own homes, rather than traditional hospital or in-patient environments. This gives a greater sense of a personal service to the care they provide.

There is also myth that district nurses only provide care for elderly people, when in fact anyone who requires long-term support but doesn’t need to be hospitalised can be on their case load.

Donna added: “I think the most rewarding scenario I can think of is one which was one of the most challenging.

“We had a young man who had cancer. He had two small children and a lovely wife. Sadly he was told that his condition was terminal and there was no further treatment available to him.

“The district nurses visited regularly to provide support and advice to him and his wife. Initially he was very angry and it was hard to engage with him, but over time we were gradually able to build a solid relationship with him and his family.

“We were able to refer and signpost to other services as required and help him with managing his symptoms, as his condition worsened, by organising the most appropriate medication and equipment for his home.

“As he and his wife began to trust us we were able to have frank and open conversations about his wishes at the end of his life and when that time came it was reassuring for his wife, and for us as a team, to know that we had achieved what those wishes were.

“He died peacefully at home, pain free and with dignity - his wife and children were curled up on his bed with him and I was sat at his bedside as he slipped away.

“The experience was emotional but desperately rewarding and, having met his wife since, she said that when she knew she was going to be losing her husband she had never expected him to have such a good death, she said she would be eternally grateful. This is why district nursing is the best job in the world.”

The team provides 24-hour support but has been struggling recently to recruit staff to cover evening and night shifts. With intensive training to equip staff with the skills to work autonomously it could be the perfect role for experienced or newly qualified staff looking for added flexibility.

“I would never want to return to working in an in-patient setting as working autonomously is extremely empowering. Support and assistance is only ever a telephone call away and a strong and family-like team has always been there to assist and advise me,” said Donna.

“I would never wish to return to working in a hospital. On a sunny day I have my car window down, my sun glasses on and my radio playing in between patient calls.

“It’s the perfect way to wind down between each call and allows me to clear my mind in preparation to provide my best for my next patient.”

“Working in the Out of Hours Service is a fantastic way of achieving a good work-life balance. Many of the nurses have young families but are passionate about their profession as a nurse.

“With the ability to work anything between five and twenty five hours a week during the evening there is such great flexibility.

“They were also happy that to boost their hours when needed they were able to pick up extra shifts on days and found that the prospect of this flexibility gave them a freedom they had not expected within nursing.”

For more information about district nurses and the trust’s services visit www.hacw.nhs.uk or telephone 01905 760000.