Care Opinion

District Nursing

Posted By No complaints but more time for staff

"District Nursing"

About: Community Nursing Services / Ashfield Community Nursing

(as the patient),

Immersive Reader

I just wanted to acknowledge how hard the district nursing team work to heal my leg ulcer. I know how busy they are I and sometimes feel that, while they try not to show they are rushed and short staffed. I would like to be able to do more such as order my own dressings but the GP's don't allow it. this is a great shame as I like to be independent and is such a waste for the nursing staff to have to do this for every patient. The nurses are caring and understand my problems but when agency staff are used a lot (which I assume is because of staff shortages) things don't get done and this causes delays.

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Responses

Response from Anne Spooner, Professional Lead, Integrated Adult Community Team (Ashfield), County Health Partnerships 11 years ago
We have made a change
Anne Spooner
Professional Lead, Integrated Adult Community Team (Ashfield),
County Health Partnerships

Submitted on 19/03/2014 at 11:06
Published on Care Opinion at 11:13

Immersive Reader

Thank you for your comments. I am please that you feel that nurses are so professional in their approach being caring and understanding and also promoting your leg ulcer to heal.

Thank you for highlighting your experience of agency nurses. Agency staff are intermittently employed to cover for staff absences in the service. I am sorry to hear that you experience poor continuity of care and some dealy at these times. I have addressed this with the District Nurse Team Leaders and we have improved the information provided to agency nurses and requesting feed back at the end of the shift.

Regarding the prescriptions-it is protocol that all specialist treatments (including wound care products) are requested by the nurse. Some specilaist nurses are also qualified to prescribe the treatment product. This is to ensure the right product is prescribed/requested at any time. However, I very much value your wish to become a more active part in your treatment management. I will raise this issue within the Patient Experience Group within County Health Partnership.

I would be very happy to hear from you If you have any other suggestions on how we can support the patient or carer to become more involved in the management of their care, or if you would like to join the Patient Experince Group.

With Best wishes

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