Children’s community nursing team

We are based on Kipling Ward at Conquest Hospital and in the Scott Unit at Eastbourne District General Hospital.

We are a team of specialist nurses who provide skilled nursing care and support to babies, children and young people in the familiar environment of their own home, school/nursery.

Aims of our service

To work in partnership with families to provide nursing support at home
To reduce hospital admissions for children and allow earlier discharge from hospital
To provide a flexible and individual service for each baby, child and young person whom we visit

From left top – Bon, Danni, Lizzie, Lucy, Liz, Sara, Nicky From bottom left – Kerry, Kayleigh, Caroline

Role of the team

Providing teaching and practical supervision for parents and carers
Nursing care for children with short term and acute conditions such as wound care and administration of intravenous antibiotics
Nursing care for children with chronic conditions such as juvenile arthritis Providing advice and support to children at home with complex health needs
Specialist nurse support is provided for children with cancer and cystic fibrosis, including the management of central lines and administration of chemotherapy
Nursing care for children with a tracheostomy and home ventilation Nurse led clinic for eczema
Blood tests for children who require this procedure on a regular basis or who would benefit from having this test carried out at home
Care of children requiring home oxygen
Care of children with nasogastric, jejunal and gastrostomy tubes
Supporting and caring for children with life limiting and life threatening conditions including those requiring end of life care. We often work together with the Demelza and Chestnut Tree Nursing Teams to ensure nurses are available when needed
We are able to organise admission to hospital when necessary for children who have complex care needs and are normally cared for at home
We work closely with local GP’s, health visitors, school nurses and teams from specialist hospitals

Equipment

We have a supply of equipment which we lend to families to support the care of their child at home. There is a date on each machine that indicates when the next annual service is due. Please contact the children’s community nurses two weeks before this date to arrange for a replacement machine to be collected from Kipling Ward or the Scott Unit.

Supplies

We will order supplies for your child ready for when they are discharged home from hospital.

When you need routine supplies, please call/email the admin for your area (Eastbourne or Hastings teams). It takes two weeks for supplies to be ordered, delivered to Conquest Hospital or Eastbourne DGH and then to be sent out via courier to various pick up points. These will be explained to you when we contact you to let you know that they are ready.

Education

We visit schools, nurseries and respite centres and can provide nursing care in these settings.

We also teach staff how to carry out some procedures for children that are required on a regular basis while away from home.

Students

We will sometimes have a student nurse working with us for a few weeks placement to learn about care of children in their home environment. We will always ask your permission before any procedure is carried out by a student nurse under our supervision.

Conquest Hospital team

Office: 0300 131 4957

Liz Parker (Tues/Thurs): 07814 285637

Debbie Barnes (Mon/Tues): 07825 932567

Kayleigh Beattie (Mon/Wed/Fri): 07786 707381

Nicky Moran (Wed/Thurs/Fri): 07972 245165

Sara Emery-Hill (Wed/Thurs/Fri): 07974 044 506

Eastbourne DGH team

Office: 0300 131 5419

Lucy Roberts (Tues/Wed/Thurs/Fri): 07788 415327

Louise Pike (Thur/Fri): 07774 904548

Caroline Hyde (Mon/Tues/Wed/Thurs): 07973 981635

Kerry Newall: 07866 007624

Bon McDonald (Mon/Tues/Wed/Thurs): 07482 963645

Lizzie Mather (Tue, Wed, Thur): 07843 963644

Weekends and Bank Holiday contact

Kipling Ward

0300 131 4558

Kipling Short Stay Paediatric Assessment Unit

0300 131 4965

Available 24 hours a day – 7 days a week