Page 8 - Community Health mag issue 2

PAGE 8 www.kentcht.nhs.uk

NEWS

service, closer to home, or even in the
comfort of their own home. With a faster
discharge from an acute hospital, patients
free-up expensive hospital beds for those
who really need them resulting in a more
efficient system, as well as better care for
the patient.”
Dorothy, who served in the Auxiliary
Territorial Service during the war, developed
a bacteria bone infection, osteomyelitis, in
her left leg after an operation.
Thanks to a suggestion from her GP
Dr Simon Lundy, she was discharged from
Kent and Canterbury Hospital into the care
of Faversham Cottage Hospital, where she
has been receiving her IV antibiotics every
day for the past four weeks.
The 92-year-old is hoping to return to
her warden-assisted flat soon.
Dorothy said: “It’s a lovely hospital;
they are all so kind. I like that it’s small.
It’s a bit like home and I’ve
no complaints at all. I’m not
in pain and they are helping
me to get better. I hope to be
back home and walking
again soon.”
The Trust is working in
acute hospitals and with the
University of Kent to develop
a training programme for its
3,500 nurses.
Leading this training are
specialist IV nurses Helen Journo and Carly
Edmed, who work closely with hospital
matrons, like Faversham’s Sue Picot, and are
supported by a 24/7 on call pharmacist and
45 link nurses.
Helen said: “Infections are quite common
with patients with long-term conditions
like COPD, bronchitis and cystic fibrosis so
having this treatment close to home will
be a real benefit for patients who have
frequent infections.”

MORE patients like great grandmother
Dorothy Lowry are now benefitting from
having intravenous therapy (IV) at home or
in their community hospital.
Intravenous therapy is used to inject
antibiotics or chemotherapy straight into
a vein allowing the drugs, to take effect
quickly. It is a common treatment for urine
infections, heart infection endocarditis and
skin infection cellulitis.
Usually performed at major, acute
hospitals, Kent Community Health
NHS Trust (KCHT) is at the forefront of
developing the use of IVs in community
hospitals.

iv therapy service to
be expanded across Kent

For the past couple
of years, KCHT has run a
successful service in east
Kent with more than 13,950
treatments in patients’ homes. We are
now expanding and developing a 24-hour-
a-day, seven-day-a-week, county-wide
service for patients with complex, long-term
conditions. Patients will be able to receive
the treatment at home or in one of Kent’s
community hospitals.
Paul Jhass, Advanced Pharmacist and
Project

l

ead, said: “Being able to deliver IV
therapy at home or in a community hospital
means patients can benefit from a quality

‘It’s a lovely
hospital; they
are all so kind.
I like that
it’s small.’

Fighting infection: Dorothy Lowry can have her IV therapy close to home in
Faversham Cottage Hospital thanks to specialist IV nurses like Helen Journo (left).

S PEECH therapists are using the latest
technology to treat patients thanks to a
generous donation from the Gravesham
League of Friends.
Speech Studio is being used to provide
voice rehabilitation for people who suffer
with vocal problems, such as hoarseness
or nodules due to mis-use, vocal abuse or
lifelong bad habits.
The Laryngograph is connected to a

SpeeCH t H erA pi StS MAK i N g wAveS
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computer and records vibrations of the
vocal chords using two soft pads which are
worn around the throat like a collar.
Matt Hardwick, Speech and Language
Therapy Manager, said: “This is a brilliant
piece of equipment that gives us results
as the examination is happening. Using
Speech Studio means we can prevent
surgery and stop people having to go into
hospital unnecessarily.”

The LaRYNGOGRapH is now available
in all our clinics across Kent and is often
used with singers or teachers who can
be prone to straining their voice.

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