The Capital and Coast District Health Board (CCDHB) District Nursing Hospital Admission Prevention Project can now add to its list of achievements a reduction in rest home patients needing to be admitted to Wellington ED.
A three month survey carried out last year found many residents in aged care were being brought into Wellington’s ED to be recatherised.
The data gathered prompted the district nursing scheme to set up a training programme, led by CCDHB community continence nurse specialist Louise Mills, to help aged residential care nurses who had elderly male patients needing catherisation and patients with suprapubic catheters.
“Initially, we held a meeting at Keneperu for H.O.Ps where we let those working in aged residential care know about the training programme. The survey results enabled us to target facilities needing help. We then went ahead and contacted them directly, offering our training service.”
“It not an easy thing to be able to insert a catheter – some cases can be complex, for example patients who have prostate cancer,” said Louise. “Having the skills needed is really important. This service gives staff the tools to care for their patients better but the main thing is that it’s less traumatic for the patient.”
Nurse manager for the Kemp Home and Hospital, Valelia Gibb, says the training has made a huge difference.
“Admissions to ED for male catherisation from our rest home have been reduced from 4-5 p/month to zero. We have been able to successfully deal with any issues regarding male catherisation. Our residents, their families, and our GP are very happy that staff here have been up skilled and that their parent no longer requires “unnecessary” hospitalization. It’s been absolutely fantastic.”
contributed by Capital & Coast DHB communications
