District Nurses

The District Nursing Service provides nursing care, advice and support to patients, families and carers in their own homes, residential homes and nurse-led clinics. The District Nursing Team is part of the Primary Health Care Team which includes your GP, Practice Nurse, Health Visitor and other professions allied to the health service and are usually based in local surgeries.

The District Nursing Team may consist of :

       The District Nurse – a registered nurse who has undertaken extra training in Community Nursing.

       Community Staff Nurse – a registered nurse who has usually studied at Diploma Level.

       Nursing Auxiliary/Health Care Assistant – an unqualified person who has received training to assist the District Nurse.

Each member of the team has different responsibilities which relate to the level of their expertise. The District Nurse will make an assessment of nursing needs and agree a care plan. The team of community nurses will deliver the nursing care until it is no longer required. If health and social needs are likely to be long-term, the District Nurse will be involved in a more detailed Community Care Assessment with a social worker. This process enables agreement about how long-term needs will be provided and is a good example of inter-agency working.

Health Visitors

The Health Visiting Service aims to promote the health of the whole community within Somerset and to help people reach their optimum health through the prevention of disease. This occurs through contacts with families and individuals, working with groups and widescale public health initiatives. Health visitors promote health in the widest sense of the term, including physical, mental and social wellbeing. They are members of the Primary Health Care Team and are normally based at a GP surgery or health centre. People can ask to speak to them directly or seek referral through their GP.

Health visitors are often associated with only working with children under 5 and especially with babies. This is only part of the picture, as health visitors offer their expertise to people of all ages, based on where the needs are. However, by establishing a lasting, professional relationship with the family of a new baby, the health promotion work health visitors undertake is more effective and can last for many years, stretching to all members of the extended family.

Practical advice and information is offered on all aspects of health, including:

       Infant and child issues e.g. breast-feeding, weaning and nutrition; minor ailments,  behaviour, toilet training and temper tantrums

       Child protection

       Advise on employment and benefit rights

       Support and information for fathers-to-be and new fathers as well as mothers

       Information on local support networks including ante-natal classes, leisure activities, exercise classes, post-natal and toddler groups etc.

       Support for single parents

       Relationship difficulties, domestic violence and conflicts within the family

       Parenting and parenting practice.

       Early detection and initiation of treatment for depression

       Prevention of illness and disease.