Children's Community Nursing

Secondary care nursing provision in Somerset.

Andre Clinchant, Lead Nurse, Taunton & Somerset NHS trust

Providing support for children with complex health needs.

Supporting parents to become expert carers.

Supporting schools to deal with ever increasing complex health needs in their environment.

Reducing the need for hospitalisation. Promote as normal a life as possible.

Overview

Overt nursing need. Rare or unusual nursing needs beyond that

which primary care offers. Life threatening/life limiting condition. Under regular care of a paediatrician. Specialised health conditions (cancer, CF,

diabetes)

What is complex health.

3 teams across Somerset. Taunton, Yeovil and Bath hospitals. Specialist teams & nurses including

COMPASS and CHCT, diabetics, oncology. Outreach into homes, schools, residential

settings, respite care settings.

Provision

NOTE. Mostly we only take referrals from consultants, not GPs, schools, health visitors etc.

Emergency care. Immunisations. Basic nursing care on otherwise healthy

children. Regular hands on nursing such as

gastrostomy feeds, insulin injections, blood glucose tests.

Mobility issues/ adaptations. Mental health issues. Lead in creating health care plans but…

What we don’t do.

Support schools in drafting care plans. Training SENCOS, LSAs etc. Specialised nursing procedures (bloods,

chemotherapy) Attend Annual reviews. Sign posting. Some emergency procedures (gastro tube

changes)

So what do we do?

Health need

Child goes to GP

Primary care provision

Health visitor, School Nurse. ITS

secondary health provision.

Specialist nursing provision

Tertiary hospitals and

allied services

Support school

9-5 service. Non emergency. Specialist nursing care. Not hands on. Work in partnership with other agencies. Useful problem solver. Friend, not your enemy!

Summary