District Nurses
A District Nurse is a registered nurse who has undertaken further study at degree or diploma level and who may lead a team of staff nurses and Health Care Assistants.
Team members carry identification and can be recognised by their uniform:
- Sisters - dark navy dresses or tunics and trousers;
- Staff Nurses - light blue striped dresses or tunics with dark blue trim and dark trousers;
- Health Care Assistants - purple striped dresses or tunics with dark blue trim and dark trousers;
- Male nurses wear white tunics with appropriate colour trim.
Criteria for District Nursing home visits:
District nursing is primarily a visiting service. It provides high quality skilled nursing assessment, care, advice and health promotion to people who cannot reasonably leave their own homes. They are on duty 7 days a week.
Eligible patients are those who:
- Are unable to travel to the surgery/hospital due to serious illness or disability;
- Are recovering from surgery and are unable to travel;
- Need palliative nursing care;
- Are very frail, have a nursing need and are unable to travel;
- Have undergone chemotherapy/radiotherapy (or other treatments) and travel would be detrimental to their recovery;
- Require treatment it would be inappropriate to carry out in the surgery, eg bowel care.
The evening and night-time aspect of district nursing is covered by the Community Night and Twilight Nursing Service and is based on assessment.
Some Community nurses work as part of an integrated team in surgeries, patients' homes and other settings.
Access to community nursing teams is via your GP surgery or the Community Nurse Manager. Community Nurse Managers can be contacted on:
Christchurch: Teresa Cole 01202 705339
East Dorset region: Liz Gardiner 01202 855644
Purbeck: Deidre Selwyn 01929 554966
Swanage: Cath Granger 01929 475138
This page has yet to be update in respect of North and South West Dorset.