The District Nursing service is a community based service providing skilled nursing care to adult patients in their own homes, in residential homes or in a clinic setting. These patients are primarily housebound and may be expected to attend a GP surgery as they recover.
The service operates 365 days a year, and is open between the hours of 8.30 a.m. and 5.00 p.m. The Twilight Nursing team covers between the hours of 7.00 pm and midnight.
District nurses are attached to a GP surgery and work as part of an integrated health and social care team. They work closely with families, carers and other professionals from the NHS, private and voluntary sectors to optimise the care that patients receive, including palliative care provision.
The service supports and encourages people with a disability or long term condition to live independent lives, providing a range of services and treatments to enable individuals to avoid unnecessary hospital admissions, and to facilitate early discharge where hospitalisation is necessary. District nurses also provide end of life care.
There are currently two locality teams covering New Malden/Kingston and Surbiton/Chessington. These are made up of community matrons, district nurses, community staff nurses, healthcare assistants, social workers, care management officers, home care assessors and admin officers.
