Trust introduces loan care equipment service for nursing homes  

Staff from Scarborough Hospital have been working in partnership with local nursing homes to introduce a new equipment loan service which will enable nursing home staff to provide symptom relief for palliative care patients.

York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has introduced a new loan care service for a specialist piece of equipment called the T34 syringe driver. This will ensure that all nursing homes across the Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale locality have access to this specialist piece of equipment, drugs and training, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

A syringe driver is a small portable pump that can be used to give patients a continuous dose of painkillers and other medications and is often used in palliative care, providing symptom management for patients who are unable to take oral medication.

Kath Sartain, Macmillan Lead Cancer Nurse, explained: “Palliative care patients often have multiple symptoms which require specific drug treatments.

“If the patient’s condition deteriorates and they are unable to take medication orally, the syringe driver provides a simple and effective way to control their symptoms and pain.

“Previously patients may have had to go to hospital for pain relief if they were unable to take it orally however, by introducing the loan service and training, nursing homes can now access this specialist device and drugs 24/7.

“This means that care can continue to be delivered in a familiar and comfortable environment rather than a hospital setting, providing benefits to the patient, nursing home and hospital.

“We are delighted to have introduced this loan care scheme which is collaboration between the local hospital, hospice, community and nursing homes.”  

Nursing homes need to register to join the loan scheme, and for a minimal charge, a syringe driver is available on loan 24 /7. Each nursing home can also access free syringe driver training delivered by specialist staff.

St Helen's Nursing Home in Scarborough is the first nursing home to sign up to this agreement and they have already participated in staff training.

The  syringe driver task force, provides staff with up-to-date training which includes the drugs and therapeutic care required in administering a syringe driver.

The new syringe driver is due to be rolled out at York Hospital and wider North Yorkshire Community from April and following its roll out and training, the plan is to introduce a loan care service for nursing homes in this locality.

06 March 2014