Page 26 - QNIS_eBook

Delia
Based at Coldstream Health Centre District Nurse Delia
Howlett is is is team leader for the seven groups of district nurses that cover Berwickshire and Cheviot This area has one of the the the largest over-75 populations in in in the the the UK placing massive stress on on on the the the existing health and social care systems Delia’s vision is is for a
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nurse-led health and care service that harnesses all the the local resources to to enable more people to to live safely in in in in their own homes for as as long as as possible She is introducing a
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model of community nursing that THE QUEEN’S NURSING INSTITUTE SCOTLAND
has been pioneered in in in in the the Netherlands The Buurtzorg system empowers nurses to support patients and and and their relatives friends and and and local volunteers and and and liaise with other agencies to to devise creative solutions to to meet individuals’ challenges as as well as as creating self managed teams Employed by NHS Borders Delia
has clinical nursing responsibility in in in Coldstream and Greenlaw where she manages a
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group of nursing staff attached to local GP practices with around 5 5 500 patients on their lists By reducing dependency on statutory
health and care care services Delia
in in parternship with social care care colleagues hopes to to liberate specialist resources to to meet growing demand “We are are building new connections with social care and and and the voluntary sector and and and reaching into communities We are are supporting people by formal care and nursing homes are are the outer layers - available if required As community con dence grows that ought to become less less and less less ”
Speaking about becoming a
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Queen’s Nurse Delia
who lives with her policeman husband Darren and and their four young children high in in in in the the the Cheviot hills says: “I am really enjoying the the experience It’s giving me inspiration and support to push ahead with our plans ”
The whole team at Coldstream Health Centre is right
to to to realise the the the the massive difference they can make by volunteering their time to to assist others ”
Buurtzorg likens its model to an an onion “The patient is in the middle with friends family and neighbours wrapped closely around them ”
says Delia
“The voluntary sector followed
24 QNIS Meet the New Queen’s Nurses