Nursing Insights
Sarah's support helps more patients stay at home
Sitting with a patient while their family carer takes a much-needed break; collecting and delivering prescriptions; or helping patients with personal care to ensure they can stay at home - it's all in a day's work for IRHH Healthcare Assistant SARAH SAMBROOKS.
As demand for our specialist nursing service continues to grow, IRHH is developing the role of Healthcare Assistant across the Chilterns region covered by the four adult nursing teams. Sarah's duties might include collecting prescriptions for patients, or sometimes going out with a nurse, if a patient visit will require two people. This allows nurses more time to concentrate on tasks that require their specialist training.
Sarah also does support visits, chatting to patients to check how things are going, and reports back to the nurses if there are any problems. The support she provides with patients' personal care often means they are able to remain out of hospital, or come home earlier.
Jane Westall, Deputy Director of Nursing, explains: "The Dacorum nursing team has worked with a Healthcare Assistant for some time, but the three teams in Bucks have not had this kind of support before. Sarah is already proving a huge asset to them. She has experience of community care, as well as working in hospitals, and has quickly gained the nurses' trust. We will need more of this sort of support in future."
Sarah trained as a Healthcare Assistant at Wycombe Hospital and has passed her NVQ Level Three in health and social care. She says: "I have been awarded a place at the University of Bedfordshire for adult nurse training, starting in September. I had previously worked bank (occasional) shifts with IRHH so was delighted to be offered a full-time contract until I go to university. It's a good stepping stone for me and I really enjoy the work."
Sarah is linked to the Ridgeway nursing team, but also helps out in the South Bucks and Wycombe areas. Her workload is planned in consultation with her line manager, Clinical Nurse Specialist Liz Dunthorne, but it is then up to Sarah to manage her own diary. Sarah also receives ongoing mentorship from Senior Iain Rennie Nurse, Jennie Freeborn.
"This morning, for example, I visited three patients to help them with their personal care. I also do respite sits, which can be a big help to families. A patient's partner may need to go out to the shops, or take a break for a while, and I can sit with the patient while they do that."
Sarah knows from her own experience how valuable the IRHH nursing service is to families. She explains: "I lost my Dad to cancer when I was five. My Mum didn't get a lot of support. Working with the Iain Rennie nurses has brought it home to me how difficult it must have been for my Mum.
"It's lovely to be able to offer support to people in their own homes. The nurses are a great team and I enjoy working with them. It's also such a relaxed approach. You are given time to spend with the patients, without any clockwatching."
Jane says Sarah has shown just how valuable the Healthcare Assistant role can be, and the plan is to introduce more as funds allow. Director of Nursing & Clinical Services, Sue Varvel , adds: "At IRHH our mission is always to enable people to remain at home with their families, wherever possible. Employing more Healthcare Assistants will help us to do that, and will also help meet a current government target."
