All people with long-term conditions and mobility problems will be entitled to routine monitoring by district nurses in a scheme funded by South Tyneside clinical commissioning group (CCG).
Following a review into the district nursing service by the CCG and the local foundation trust, the scheme will be piloted in the area from April.
The monitoring service should be rolled out across South Tyneside from June.
All people with long-term conditions and mobility problems will be entitled to routine monitoring by district nurses in a scheme funded by South Tyneside clinical commissioning group (CCG).
Following a review into the district nursing service by the CCG and the local foundation trust, the scheme will be piloted in the area from April.
The monitoring service should be rolled out across South Tyneside from June.
Information collected by the district nurses (DNs) will be passed onto the patient’s GP. The CCG hopes this will mean signs of deterioration can be picked up more quickly and that care can be delivered more effectively to maintain quality of life.
To ensure there are enough DNs to carry out the service, some treatments previously offered by them will be taken over by practice nurses, for example injections, suture removal and wound care.
Jeanette Scott-Thomas, head of quality and patient safety at South Tyneside CCG, said: “The changes mean that all housebound people with chronic conditions will now have access to routine monitoring of their condition.
“We know that it is not always possible for some patients with serious mobility issues to come into GP practices so this new approach is far better for them.”
