Community nursing support
North Tyneside Primary Care Trust's (PCT) community nursing support team provides community-based care and support for people with cancer and other non curative illnesses in the last 6 months of life, who want to be cared for in their own homes or who wish to spend their last days at home.
The service also assists familes and carers by providing psychological and practical support, such as temporarily taking over some responsibilities and tasks to allow regular carers to have a break. This includes:
- Helping patients with personal care e.g. bathing and dressing
- Providing care during the day or overnight to relieve the main carer
- Providing support if the main carer is unwell or if the patient suddenly needs 24 hour care
- Help with leaving hospital
- Providing up to 24 hours of care in the last 48 hours of life
- Providing care to patients needing to leave hospital quickly on the Liverpool Care Pathway
The community nursing support team follow care plans written by the district nurses. The team includes 14 health care assistants, 1 team co-ordinator and 1 community nursing liaison sister who works alongside district nurses and the PCT's specialist palliative care team.
How can I access the service?
Patients access the service via their district nurse after a comprehensive assessment has been completed. Your GP surgery can tell you who your local district nurse is and how to contact them. If you would like to find out more information about district nurses please visit the district nursing page of this website.
Contact details
Community nursing support team
Ground Floor
GB Hunter Hospital
The Green
Wallsend
Tyne and Wear
NE28 7PD
Tel: 0191 2205947
Fax: 0191 2205949
Useful websites
www.Macmillan.org.uk
Macmillan cancer support – information on support groups near you.
www.cancerresearchuk.org
The UK’s leading cancer charity dedicated to research – huge range of information on all types of cancers
www.ncpc.org.uk
National council for palliative care
Glossary
LCP - The Liverpool care pathway (LCP) was developed seven years ago by the palliative care institute based at the Marie Curie hospice in Liverpool. This innovative programme developed palliative care techniques to provide people with the highest quality of care.
