District nurses are highly-skilled registered nurses who have undertaken a specialist qualification in community nursing. They lead and manage teams and caseloads.

Our district nursing teams includes

  • registered nurses who plan and provide skilled, complex nursing care
  • registered nursing associates who provide care overseen by the registered nurses
  • community healthcare assistants and community support workers who provide specific aspects of nursing care as delegated.

Registered nurses have a responsibility for training and planning learning experiences for student nurses. Student nurses may accompany staff on their visits and participate in nursing care.

Response times

The district nursing service has an agreed variety of response times. It's not an emergency service but will respond within the following time frames:

  • urgent: within two to four hours e.g. symptom control, blocked catheter
  • non-urgent: usually within 24 hours e.g. by-passing catheters, constipation, wound management
  • planned: routine visits e.g. changing dressings, hospital discharges, continence.

Key information about this service

Eligibility for home nursing

Home nursing will be provided to patients who are housebound, that is; those who require medical transport to enable them to leave their home. We also visit patients where either their diagnosis or the nursing procedure means that home is the best place for the care to take place.

Access to nursing care at home

Referrals to our service can be via our supporting community services or hospitals. Self-referral and requests from family, friends and carers can be made and will be assessed for appropriateness.

The patient, where able, must give permission before they are referred.

Please let the nursing team know if you are not going to be available when your visit is due.

We expect all staff to be always treated with courtesy and respect.

We ask that patients or others in the home do not smoke during the nurse’s visit and that any pets be secured away from the area of care before the nurse arrives.

The team will undertake an holistic assessment of your health needs. This may mean that we recommend referral to other appropriate services if required. They will work with you to develop your own wellbeing care plan.

A basic folder outlining your plan will be left in your home and can be shared with other people or agencies who visit you to support your health needs if you wish.

The nursing teams will aim to actively involve you or your significant others in the nursing care that is planned following assessment. The nurse will consider your preferences within the constraints of available resources.

The nursing team will aim to work with you and your significant others to maximise your independence. This may include signposting you to other services to meet your needs. The nurses will provide your planned care, support, information and advice to minimise complications associated with any health problems that you have.

The notes we write on your electronic record are shared information with your GP and other professionals who support your health and social needs. All your confidential information will be kept securely.

Contact details for district nursing teams

The contact numbers for many of our individual teams are below. The service is not an emergency service and you may be required to leave a message on an answer phone and a member of the team would get back to you.

Also, your GP surgery can can provide contact details for a team during its opening hours.  

For urgent out of hours requests (5pm- 8am on weekdays, weekends and bank holidays), call 0300 3690530.

GP surgeries the team cover

  • James Fisher Medical Centre
  • St Albans Medical Centre
  • Panton
  • Moordown.

Contact details for referrals

GP surgeries the team cover

  • Beaufort Road Surgery
  • Littledown Surgery
  • Shelley Manor and Holdenhurst Medical Centre
  • Southbourne Surgery.

Contact details for referrals

GP surgeries the team cover

  • Banks and Bearwood Medical Centre
  • Talbot Medical Centre
  • Kinson Medical Centre
  • Village Surgery.

Contact details for referrals

GP surgeries the team cover

  • Stour Surgery
  • Highcliffe Surgery
  • Christchurch Medical Practice.

Contact details

 

Stour Team   - 01202 051530

Christchurch 1 Team  -01202 495433 ( based at CMP)

Christchurch 2 Team - 01202 495455 ( based at CMP)

Highcliffe Team   -01425 283249

 

GP surgeries the team cover

  • Walford Mill
  • Old Dispensary
  • Orchid House
  • Penny’s Hill
  • QuarterJack
  • Cranborne
  • Barcellos
  • Verwood
  • West Moors.

Contact details for referrals

GP surgeries the team cover

  • Fordington Surgery
  • Poundbury Doctors Surgery
  • Prince of Wales Surgery
  • Queens Avenue Surgery
  • The Atrium Health Centre
  • Portesham Surgery (Shared with Jurassic Coast).

Contact details for referrals

GP surgeries the team cover

  • Yetminster Health Centre
  • The Apples Medical Centre
  • Grove Medical Centre
  • Blackmore Vale
  • Peacemarsh Medical Centre
  • Gillingham
  • Whitecliff Surgery
  • Blandford primary care network.

Contact details for referrals

GP surgeries the team cover

  • The Adams Practice
  • Carlisle House Surgery
  • Evergreen Oak Surgery
  • Poole Town Surgery
  • Families Medical Centre
  • Rosemary Medical Centre.

Contact details for referrals

GP surgeries the team cover

  • The Birchwood Medical Centre
  • Canford Health General Practice
  • The Hadleigh Practice and Hadleigh Lodge
  • The Harvey Practice and Harvey Merley.

Contact details for referrals

GP surgeries the team cover

  • Barton House Surgery
  • Bridport Medical Centre
  • The Tollerfield Practice
  • The Charmouth Medical Practice
  • Lyme Bay Medical Practice
  • Lyme Regis Medical Centre.

Contacts for referrals

GP surgeries the team cover

  • The Bridges Medical Practice
  • Weymouth Bay Medical Centre
  • Wyke Regis and Lanehouse Health Centre
  • Royal Manor Healthcare
  • Cross Roads Surgery.

Contact details for referrals

  • Phone your own GP practice
  • Health care professionals only: 01305 361061 option 1.

 

GP surgeries the team cover and contact details for referrals

GP surgeries the team cover and contact details for referrals

GP surgeries the team cover

  • Bere Regis Surgery
  • Wellbridge
  • Corfe Castle Surgery
  • Sandford Surgery
  • Wareham Surgery
  • Swanage Medical Centre.

Contact details for referrals