District Nurses

District Nurses are qualified nurses who have taken a specialist qualification in community health.  They manage a team of nurses, both qualifies and unqualified, who deliver nursing care to people in their own homes.

Aims of the District Nursing Service

The service is provided for individual patients who are housebound and unable to attend the GP practice.  The service will assess, plan and provide the most appropriate and high standard of nursing care to people in their own homes.

The service aims to:

• provide a responsive 24-hour service
• promote patient independence
• plan nursing input with patients, their carers and other appropriate health and social care professionals
• teach and support patients and their carers to provide aspects of nursing care where appropriate
• maximise opportunities for patients to live at home
• promote ongoing health education
• work in partnership with others to improve local health care.

When to refer to the service

When illness, injury or weakness affects your ability to cope at home independently and safely.  Some examples of reasons people come to us are:

• health education
• wound management
• managing incontinence
• urinary and bowel problems
• to access equipment to prevent physical deterioration and promote independence, for example, commodes, hoists
• nursing management of chronic conditions and supporting patients with a range of disabilities
• care of people with terminal illnesses.

The District Nursing Service has the skills and expertise to assess and provide support for patients and their carers through all stages of illness and disease.

District nurses are attached to each GP practice.  Pleas ask the receptionist for contact information and a leaflet describing the service.

Anyone can refer themselves to the service

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Contact us at communitycare@eastlothian.gov.uk