Practice Nurse Team

Our Practice Nurses, led by Advanced Nurse Practitioners Kathy Ellis, Debbie Franks and Heidi Edmunds, run a wide range of services for patients. These include the drop-in Urgent Treatment Centre at Estuary View and clinics at all three sites as detailed below. We have around twenty registered (RGN) Practice Nurses and ten Health Care Assistants (HCA).

Because we aim to provide a high standard of care for patients, many of our nurses have studied to qualify and gain practical supervised experience in their specialist areas. Qualifications include:

• Advanced Nurse Practitioner Degree
• Professional Nursing Practice Degree
• Nurse Independent Prescribing Module
• Emergency Nurse Practitioner Module
• Minor Illness Diploma
• Diabetes Diploma
• Asthma /COPD (bronchitis/emphysema) Diploma
• Coronary Heart Disease Diploma
• Contraception and Sexual Health Diploma
• Cervical Cytology (smears)
• NVQ3 Certificate (Health Care Assistants)

Nurses must have regular updates in their specialist clinical areas and the following:

• Emergency Life Support
• Management of Anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction)
• Immunisations
• Child Protection
• Infection Control
• Smoking Cessation
• Information Governance

Practice Nurse Clinics are available at each site and include:

Minor Illness

We assess and treat a variety of conditions including: asthma attacks, tonsillitis, ear infections, skin conditions, urine infections and requests for emergency contraception.

Family Planning and Sexual Health

We advise and offer a full range of contraception. This includes hormonal pills and the more effective long-acting methods such as intrauterine devices, injections and subdermal implants, which are devices inserted just under the skin. We also provide cervical screening (smears), Chlamydia testing and advise those planning to have a baby (pre-conception advice). The Nurses who specialise in Family Planning can offer telephone consultations if this would be more appropriate and convenient.

Chronic Diseases

These include Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes with insulin initiation if necessary, Heart Disease and Stroke. We also run respiratory clinics for those with Asthma or COPD (bronchitis or emphysema),Spirometry (lung function testing) and stop-smoking clinics.

Warfarin

We undertake INR testing and dose adjustment for those taking Warfarin tablets.

Immunisations

We administer these as part of the childhood vaccination programme and as routine for adults such as pneumococcal and seasonal flu immunisations. We also run travel clinics, advising and vaccinating individuals travelling abroad.

Treatment Room

Our treatment room appointments include phlebotomy (blood tests), wound and leg ulcer dressings, ear irrigation, heart and blood pressure monitoring.

Telephone advice

Finally,if you would like advice, please contact a patient coordinator to arrange for a Practice Nurse to telephone you.

Health Care Assistants

HCAs are employed in the Treatment Room and work under the supervision of qualified nurses. They assist with taking blood tests, ECGs, blood pressure readings, urine testing and other duties.