Chief Nursing Officer praises South Eastern Trust District Nursing and Hospital at Home teams in Downpatrick
Northern Ireland’s Chief Nursing Officer, Maria McIlgorm recently visited staff from the South Eastern Trust’s District Nursing and Hospital at Home Services in Downpatrick.
The visit provided a valuable opportunity to showcase the dedication and professionalism of District Nursing and Hospital at Home Teams and to highlight the vital role they play in supporting people to remain well and cared for closer to home, avoiding the need for hospital-based treatment.
During the visit, staff shared examples of innovation, partnership working and the positive impact these services have on patients and families across the Trust area.
The teams demonstrated how community-based care continues to evolve to meet increasing demand, while maintaining a strong focus on delivering safe, effective and compassionate care.
Speaking after the visit, the Chief Nursing Officer, Maria McIlgorm, said: “The visit highlighted that District Nursing and Hospital at Home Teams are highly skilled professional Teams with a deep understanding of their patient populations.
“Embedded in the heart of the communities they serve, they are leading the way in delivering a neighbourhood model of care that focuses on prevention, early intervention and health promotion.
“And they are addressing health inequalities, avoiding unnecessary hospital admissions and providing care where people want it most – in or near their own homes.”
South Eastern Trust, Director of Primary Care and Older People, Veronica Cleland, added: “We were delighted to welcome the Chief Nursing Officer to Downpatrick and to showcase the excellent work of our District Nursing and Hospital at Home Teams.
“These services play a vital role in supporting people to remain at home, reducing unnecessary hospital admissions and ensuring patients receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time.
“We welcome the continued focus on strengthening community-based care and supporting our nursing workforce to deliver high-quality, compassionate services for the population we serve.”
- Maria McIlgorm (pictured centre) with Hospital at Home staff, Veronica Cleland (Director of Primary Care and Older People) and Tony O’Connor (Interim Asst Director Primary Care)
- Maria McIlgorm (pictured far right) with District Nursing Staff
