community matrons

Does anyone have any experience of these?

I have been referred to our local one as deemed as in need of extra support at home and i just wondered in what way can they help me?

Any info gratefully recieved.

[Hidden]

bump!

[Hidden]

Hello Hopalongkp,

Community Matrons in our area are nice, they visit patients in their home and assess their needs and see if they can give support be it obtaining aids to assist day to day living or better meds. Sometimes they can provide quicker access to other services, and so far the feedback we have had from patients has all been positive. I hope your Community Matrons are the same as ours. Hope this is of some help, take really good care, Lois

[Hidden]

How do I get referred to a community matron?

[Hidden]

I think it might depend on where you live and your PCT (Primary Care Trust) but usually in our area referrals are made by the hospital or District Nurses. Sorry can't be of more help, take good care, Lois

[Hidden]

I was referred by my resp cons at my local and then my Gp had to second it. Will be finding out more on weds when she comes to visit

[Hidden]

Well have just met mine and she is lovely. Basically she is my link between home, Gp, Cons and any other services i need. She can sort out admissions(so dont go through A + E if poss) scripts, help apply for benefits,to name a few.

luckily she used to be a ward sister on my resp ward so at least shes clued up! Although techincally shes not supposed to visit until notes have arrived she is still going to visitdaily for the mo as she thinks i need the support (or in her words i probably shouldnt be at home!!)

I think she will be apositve addition to my gang of medical peeps!

If anyone else is offered their services go for it!!

I found out that you are referred via a rating system depending on number of hossi admissions/gp visits and such like. Ours is done on a serverity rating from 50%-100% i was 83%!! depressing really!

[Hidden]

Thats really interesting to read thanks hop

[Hidden]

Wow funny you lot should mention this I recieved a letter yesterday saying that I had been identified as a potential candidate for the community matron team, not sure if I do realy tho as have manged to be back at work full time since februaury with only the od visit to a/e for nebs and have manaed not to get addmitted which is good for me!!

[Hidden]

You guys so lucky i cant even get seen by district nurses to support me with sub cut? have been reffered 6 times and still not been followed up? one refferall made in person by my asthma nurse as she goes to same gp as me and they are based at our surgery?

so depends on area i suppose?

Andrea

[KateMoss]

Community matrons sound a good idea.

I too get no support regarding my s/c. The only contact I have is if I want to change the giving sets, I have to get it sanctioned / approved by a named district nurse who I have never met.

We have community respiratory nurses too but they are for the COPD patients only! ( Funding me thinks!) So no support there either.

[Hidden]

From what my nurse has told me our trust have been involved in a pilot scheme and hopefully community matrons will be rolled out across the UK over the next few years. They wont replace the DN but can work alongside and are mainly aimed at people with long term chronic conditions who need regular support and who hav frequent visits to GP or stays in hossie.

Mine has been fab so far she has spoken to my resp reg enabling me to stay out but allowing an increase in nebs as i am supervised by her. It also allows my not to have to call me as he was doing prior to to the nurse taking my case.

She is also liaising with thward about a possible readmission if no improvemnt within a period of time thus avoiding A+E unless i suddenly go down hill.

I hope for everyones sake that they arrive in your area soon.

[Hidden]

Hey,

I have been receiving support off the COPD nurses since the end of last year. It all comes down to the area you live in, how much help/support your consultant thinks you need and I suppose their views on it. I don't have COPD and don't really need help with IVs or anything although the district nurses do offer to come out every once in a while and do them but I'd rather do them myself when I'm well enough then if anything goes wrong i.e. infected lines we know whos to blame. I used to see the district nurses alot but due to funding they have had to cut down on visits and I hardly see them at all now. If your really after some support in the community talk to your consultant about seeing the COPD nurses mine actually suggested it and they have been very good with me.

Tks xxx