We’re right on time

Hello everyone,

I’d like to tell you how your feedback has changed the way that Community Nursing Teams are providing care for patients at home.

Most people will have experienced the frustration of having waited for a service or a delivery all day, all morning, or all afternoon. This might also have been some peoples’ experience of community nursing services until recently!

NHS Lanarkshire is thought to be the first Health Board in Scotland to introduce scheduled two hour time slots for a visit by Community Nurses. Nurses contact patients or their carers the day before a visit to schedule a mutually convenient time. This means patients and their carers can plan their day, as well as affording them the opportunity to make any necessary arrangements before staff visit. This could be notifying other family members who want to be present to speak with the staff, coordinating other support services they are receiving, or making sure pets are in another room. Initial feedback to this change has been very positive.

May McCallum has received timed visits at home.

Her husband Ronald said “The timed visits made a difference because the nurses come in when it suits May, after the carers have showered her. This means May is not lying all day without a dressing on.”

This project started in the East Kilbride locality and will continue to spread throughout Lanarkshire.

This is just one of many changes and improvements we are introducing to enhance the services we provide. I am very proud of the efforts of the staff and grateful for the support we have received from you the public.

If you have an experience of NHS Lanarkshire Community Nursing Service you’d like to share, please speak to a member of staff, respond on Patient Opinion, or visit the “Your Feedback” Section of the NHS Lanarkshire website to see the other ways to get in touch www.nhslanarkshire.org.uk