Community Health Nursing (CHN) Service
Services
- Community Health Nursing
- Connecting Care Program
- Continence
- Hospital in the Home (HITH)
- Palliative Care Nursing
- Wound Care
Community Health Nursing (CHN) is provided to people of all ages across SWSLHD. Services operate seven days a week, from 7:30am to 8:00pm.
Services are provided in different environments according to client need; including the home or health care centre. Any person may make a referral to CHN, this includes General Practitioners (GPs), hospital wards, Emergency Departments (EDs), Non/Government services and direct from clients/families.
Community Health Nursing
Post-Acute Care
Where care is provided as an alternative to hospitalisation or to reduce a patient's length of stay in hospital
This can include but is not limited to:
- Post-surgical and post-hospital care including management of drainage devices and Negative pressure therapy (Vac dressings)
- Intravenous therapy including antibiotics
- Medication management (Intravenous therapy including antibiotics and subcutaneous and intramuscular injections)
- Acute wound care
- Anticoagulant therapy
- Support to staff and residents of Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACF) to prevent unnecessary admission to hospital.
General Nursing
Refers to sub-acute and chronic care interventions
Includes:
- Catheter and stoma management and education
- Respiratory care
- Chronic Disease Self-Management - incorporating the development of a self-management plan in collaboration with the client and the GP and facilitation of self-management groups
- Aboriginal Chronic Care programs
- Health Promotion, Education and Support
Connecting Care Program
General and Aboriginal, 48 Hour Follow Up
- Criteria: Chronic Diseases e.g. Diabetes, Cardio-Vascular, Respiratory, Hypertension and Renal
Continence
The Bankstown Continence Service is based at Bankstown Community Health Centre, 36-38 Raymond Street, Bankstown, 2200.
Home visits and telephone assessments are conducted.
Continence Management in-services for staff and community groups can be arranged.
The service is provided for clients aged 65 and over (or aged 50 if Aboriginal/Torres Strait) in the Bankstown LGA only.
All referrals must go through “My Aged Care” on 1800 200 422.
Any enquiries can be made through the Bankstown Continence CNC on 9780 2878
The Hospital in the Home Service
The Hospital in The Home Service (HITH) is based on the safe and effective provision of in hospital type care to people outside of the hospital. The type of care being provided by the HITH services ranges from intravenous antibiotics and medications to injections and anticoagulation management. The aim of the HITH service is to firstly prevent avoidable hospital admissions by working closely with General Practitioners to and where appropriate commencing the required treatments at home or within one of the Community Nursing Clinics. Secondly the HITH service will facilitate the earlier discharge of clients from the hospital. This earlier discharge may be directly from the Emergency department after the client has been seen by the medical teams and deemed safe to be discharged or directly from the wards after the clients have commenced some treatments.
The HITH service has a Nurse Practitioner and a Clinical Nurse Specialist 2 who work together to provide education, support and resources to all the Community Health Nurses, General Practitioners, Residential Aged Care Facilities and Hospital throughout the South Western Sydney Local Health District. Clients who require HITH type services will be encouraged to attend one of the Community Nursing Clinics to receive their treatments or if necessary due to mobility and/or transport concerns the clients may be treated at their homes.
Referrals can be made via the Triple I service and the Nurse Practitioner or Clinical Nurse Specialist 2 can be contacted directly for consultation both within the client's home or General Practice.
Palliative Care Nursing
Refers to services for people who have a life limiting illness and require support for them to remain at home during their palliative phase.
Interventions include:
- Symptom Management
- Pain Management
- Oncology Support
- Bereavement Support
Specialist Palliative Care Nursing is also available for people living in Residential Aged Care Facilities.
CHN have access to a wide range of Clinical Nurse Consultants (CNCs) in a range of specialties to ensure quality clinical care is available.
Specialities include:
- Continence assessment /management
- Oncology
- Palliative Care
- Community Acute Post-Acute Care (CAPAC)
- Wound Care/Infection Control
Additional support is also available from hospital based CNC's in specialties such as Cardiology and Diabetes.
Wound management
Treatment of people with acute and chronic wounds, including the provision of specialist wound clinics in some areas
Nurse Practitioner / Community Wound CNC provides
- clinical assessments and consultations at home or RACF or GP practices
- initiation of intravenous antibiotic therapy, NPWT (Negative Pressure Wound Therapy) etc
Community Health Nurses are based at the following locations:
Bankstown Community Health Centre
Bowral Community Health Centre
Prairiewood Community Health Centre
Hoxton Park Community Health Centre
Rosemeadow Community Health Centre
For referrals contact Triple I(Hub)
Information on aged care can be found on the My Aged Care website (www.myagedcare.gov.au)
Information on disability services can be found on the national Disability Insurance Scheme website (www.ndis.gov.au)
Carer Gateway provides information and support for carers. Further information can be found on their website (www.carergateway.gov.au) or by calling 1800 422 737
