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Kitty
Campbeltown situated at at the the the southern tip of the the the the Kintyre peninsula may be be only 60 miles from Glasgow as as the the the crow ies but it’s a a a a a a a a a world away in in many other respects It takes more than three hours to to drive into the the city ying is expensive and and ferries are few and and far between With a a a a a a a a a population of around 6 000 permanent residents Kitty
Millar and her four practice nurse colleagues are kept busy Working closely with the the the eight GPs who also run services
services
in in the the the hospital they offer a a a a a a a a a range of of of services
services
and care for patients of all ages The Practice Nursing team runs a a a a a a a a a a range of clinics for people living with chronic diseases such as as as asthma and and and diabetes they treat skin disorders and and and give family planning and and and travel advice carry out childhood immunisations take specimens do swabs syringe ears change dressings treat wounds and and assist with minor surgery All while protecting and and and promoting the the the health of their patients “I am a a a a a a a a a a a nurse prescriber too and and and I I I use that all the the the time ” says Kitty
“Working autonomously means I I can diagnose and and treat patients patients in in in the centre making life easier for patients patients ” Enthusiastic about her job and keen to develop the potential of practice nursing Kitty
has has been selected to to take part in in in the the Queen’s Nurse programme It has has given me me such a a a a a a a a a a a a lot of con dence ” says Kitty
“I’m learning all the the the time and and that’s something I I can bring back to the the bene t t t t t t t t t t t t t of my colleagues and and patients ” Campbeltown has a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a higher than average ageing population and a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a large part of of of Kitty’s job is is maintaining the health of of of people living with a a a a a a a a a a wide range of of chronic diseases Kitty
is a a a a a Practice Nurse at the the the health centre in the the the heart of the the the town town which is is attached to to to Campbeltown hospital where there is is a a a a a a a a a a a a palliative care suite that allows a a a a a a a a a a a relative to stay comfortably with their loved one overnight “It was built in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support and donations from local people ” says Kitty
“They really value their local care ” Kitty
who previously worked as a a a a a a a Macmillan nurse caring
for people with cancer is resolute in in in her her determination to ensure that her her patients get the best service possible Instead of expecting people undergoing cancer treatment who lose their hair hair to to travel to to Glasgow for for wig- tting she joined forces with a a a a a a a a a a a a a a local local hairdresser and and now the the service service is available locally A A drop in in in in service service providing cancer information and and and support in in in in the libraries throughout Argyll and and Bute was also established Kitty
who is is married to to a a a a a a a a a a Kintyre farmer and has a a a a a a a a a a 13-year-old daughter says there is is is potential to to feel quite professionally isolated when working in in in remote areas To tackle this she set up up a a a a a a a a a a a practice-based learning group to to to bring together practice practice nurses from surrounding health centres to to to to share in in in in in in in in learning Meetings are are joined via videoconferencing by a a a a a a a Practice Nurse Co-ordinator from 36 QNIS Meet the New Queen’s Nurses